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VU Meter

About VU and Peak Metering

VU metering and peak metering are two types of audio level meters commonly used in recording studios and live sound applications. VU stands for Volume Units, and the meter displays the signal level in decibels relative to a reference level. VU meters measure the average level of an audio signal over time, providing a visual representation of the perceived loudness of the signal. Peak meters, on the other hand, measure the highest level of an audio signal, indicating the maximum level that the signal has reached. While VU meters are useful for monitoring overall levels and ensuring that a signal is not too quiet or too loud, peak meters are essential for preventing distortion and clipping, which can occur when a signal exceeds the maximum level that a system can handle. Together, VU and peak metering provide a comprehensive view of an audio signal's level and dynamics, allowing engineers to make informed decisions about gain staging and signal processing.

Switchboard Editor example

This example plays an audio file and calculates the RMS level and amplitude peak value of the audio signal real-time by using a VU meter node.

Code Example

{
"nodes": {
{ "id": "audioPlayerNode", "type": "AudioPlayerNode" },
{ "id": "splitterNode", "type": "BusSplitterNode" },
{ "id": "multiChannelToMonoNode", "type": "MultiChannelToMonoNode" },
{ "id": "vuMeterNode", "type": "VUMeterNode" }
},
"connections": {
{ "sourceNode": "audioPlayerNode", "destinationNode": "splitterNode" },
{ "sourceNode": "splitterNode", "destinationNode": "multiChannelToMonoNode" },
{ "sourceNode": "multiChannelToMonoNode", "destinationNode": "vuMeterNode" },
{ "sourceNode": "splitterNode", "destinationNode": "OutputNode" }
},
"tracks": {
"audioPlayerNode": "example.mp3"
}
}