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Bugfix update for the VU Meter with auto gain staging
We are excited to announce the release of an important update for VUMeter MK4, our advanced VU meter plugin that includes automatic gain staging capabilities. The HoRNet VUMeter MK4 is a digital VU meter designed to provide precise monitoring of your audio levels while offering intelligent features to streamline your workflow. With this update, we’ve enhanced the plugin’s functionality, making it even more useful for recording, mixing, and mastering tasks.
The VUMeter MK4 plugin offers a range of valuable features that help ensure proper gain staging throughout your audio production. It allows you to name your tracks and groups, making it easier to stay organized, especially when working with large projects. You can also send parameter changes to any instance of VUMeter MK4 across your project, not limited to the instances in the same group. This level of flexibility is essential for users who need a high level of control over their session without having to manually adjust each track.
One of the standout features of the VUMeter MK4 plugin is the ability to display the level of any other instance in your project without closing the GUI (Graphical User Interface) or switching tracks. This allows you to monitor your entire project in real time, ensuring that your signal levels are always under control, no matter how many tracks are involved.
During the recording phase, the VUMeter MK4 acts as a loudness indicator, providing a clear and steady visual representation of the perceived loudness of your signal. With a 300ms integration time, the VU meter offers an accurate reading of your signal’s loudness without being overly sensitive to transients. This feature is invaluable for achieving proper mic placement and maintaining consistent loudness levels throughout your recording session.
The VU meter is also highly effective when paired with peak meters in your DAW. Using both allows you to fine-tune the balance between loudness and peak values, ensuring your recordings don’t suffer from clipping or distortion. The VUMeter MK4 helps maintain this balance, which is essential to achieving high-quality recordings with no unwanted artifacts.
For optimal gain staging, the VUMeter MK4 plugin includes a calibration option that allows you to set the 0VU point to the ideal level for your A/D converters. By default, this value is set to -18dBFS, a common standard for many converters, but you should always consult the specifications of your A/D converter and adjust the calibration to match its specific internal headroom. Proper calibration ensures that you avoid overloading the analog front-end of your converter, which can negatively affect the quality of your recordings.
As you move into the mixing phase, the VUMeter MK4 proves even more useful. Gain staging plays a critical role during mixing, especially when using analog-modeled plugins that can distort if overloaded. When using these plugins, it’s important to maintain the correct input levels to prevent distortion from accumulating and negatively impacting your mix.
The auto gain feature in VUMeter MK4 automatically adjusts the internal gain of your tracks, ensuring that the signal peaks at your desired level. This feature removes the guesswork from manual gain adjustments, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your mix. You can set the target level for auto gain anywhere between -3 VU and +3 VU, giving you precise control over your signal levels without the need for constant manual intervention.
For transient-heavy tracks, there may be instances where the auto gain feature boosts the signal too much, leading to clipping. To prevent this, we’ve included a peak ceiling feature that automatically limits the signal, preventing it from exceeding the set peak value. This ensures that your signal remains clean, and distortion is avoided, allowing you to maintain the clarity and quality of your mix.
The grouping functionality of VUMeter MK4 offers significant flexibility and control. You can group instances of the VU meter together to quickly apply settings across multiple tracks. For example, you can group all your drum tracks and apply auto gain, color settings, and reference values to the entire group with just one click. This makes it easy to maintain consistency throughout your project, especially when dealing with multiple tracks that require the same processing.
The “Send to all” feature also adds an extra layer of convenience. With this feature, you can apply a parameter change to every instance of VUMeter MK4 in your project, regardless of whether they are in the same group or not. This feature is particularly useful for making global adjustments quickly and efficiently without needing to individually tweak each track.
In the latest update, version 4.2.2, we’ve introduced several important fixes and improvements to the plugin. One of the key updates is the resolution of an issue with custom group names not being saved correctly in certain DAWs when using VST3 and AU formats. We’ve also fixed a crash with Digital Performer, ensuring the plugin remains stable during use. Additionally, we’ve addressed a problem where edit boxes weren’t updating correctly after manual editing in Studio One, improving the overall stability and user experience.
These fixes help ensure that VUMeter MK4 performs seamlessly across various DAWs, providing reliable functionality no matter the setup or project complexity.
This update is available for free to all existing users of the VUMeter MK4 plugin. To download the latest version, simply visit the user area or use HoRNet DoIn to access your update. We recommend updating your plugin to ensure you benefit from the latest improvements and fixes.
In summary, the HoRNet VUMeter MK4 plugin is an essential tool for precise gain staging, level monitoring, and mixing. With features such as automatic gain adjustment, grouping, and calibration options, it provides all the tools you need to maintain optimal levels and avoid distortion. Whether you’re in the recording or mixing phase, the VUMeter MK4 ensures that your tracks are perfectly balanced, helping you achieve professional-quality results.
With its advanced functionality and intuitive controls, the VUMeter MK4 is a must-have for engineers and producers who need reliable, accurate monitoring throughout their audio production process. The latest update continues to enhance its performance, making it a valuable asset in your audio production toolkit.
