Need VU meeter

callingltu · #1 09-13-2011, 03:41 PM

Hey,

So i was using ashdown products for years and now i ended up using alembic pre and power amp. And i need VU meter. i cant live without it

I've been using it all the time: to adjust efects levels... Is there any rack mount vu metters or smth? Because looking at PA clipping light is totally not the same thing

RickenBoogie · #2 09-13-2011, 05:22 PM

Just use your ears. To my knowledge, Ashdown is the only amp maker that uses a VU meter in their designs. NO ONE else. And we're all doing just fine without it. You don't *need* it, you're just used to having it.

Dethrats · #3 09-13-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Just use your ears. To my knowledge, Ashdown is the only amp maker that uses a VU meter in their designs. NO ONE else. And we're all doing just fine without it. You don't *need* it, you're just used to having it.

i wouldnt say "NO ONE"

Behringer ULTRABASS BX4500H Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

seanm · #4 09-13-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dethrats

i wouldnt say "NO ONE"

Behringer ULTRABASS BX4500H Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

That is an Ashdown clone.

hrgiger · #5 09-13-2011, 05:58 PM

you can get rack mounted VU's but they are pricey. you could however, probably throw something together yourself with a little guidance from someone like BassmanPaul or other electronic gurus around here. the meters themselves are cheap, just how to wire them up to emulate the meter on the ashdown is what you need to know. this would be a good project I would bet a lot of people would be interested in...

Munjibunga · #6 09-13-2011, 06:13 PM

Coleman Audio MB2

As you can see, it's not an inexpensive item.

Jeff Scott · #7 09-13-2011, 07:11 PM

Pro Audio Gear: Meters

BurningSkies · #8 09-13-2011, 07:22 PM

Definitely go for this one:

Pro Audio Gear: Ward-Beck XTM4 Extended Range Test Meter

fdeck · #9 09-13-2011, 08:14 PM

Velleman SA Mono LED VU Meter Kit | K4304 | Velleman SA

Major overkill in terms of the number of parts, but should be build-able.

Gadgetjunky · #10 09-13-2011, 09:08 PM

Yea, but where in chain do you want it? And most PA's have meters? I thought about a meter to monitor my signal out of my amp, but I ended up getting the MXR M87 compressor and it has a meter, so I can monitor my signal right out of the bass.

Munjibunga · #11 09-13-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Definitely go for this one:

Pro Audio Gear: Ward-Beck XTM4 Extended Range Test Meter

That's a notch down from Behringer.

lowendgenerator · #12 09-13-2011, 11:59 PM

Why not pick up an Alesis 3630 compressor and use the LEDs to detect levels?

**B-string** · #13 09-14-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

That's a notch down from Behringer.

Impossible! A notch down from Behringer is a mains cord with bare wires.

Munjibunga · #14 09-14-2011, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Impossible! A notch down from Behringer is a mains cord with bare wires.

At $2,500, that had to be a joke.

callingltu · #15 09-14-2011, 02:46 AM

I guess i'd put it after preamp

Ok i'll sarch for diy projects

BurningSkies · #16 09-14-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

At $2,500, that had to be a joke.

I figgered he was on a budget.

callingltu · #17 09-14-2011, 06:12 AM

Anyone could suggest any DIY project?

BurningSkies · #18 09-14-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callingltu

Anyone could suggest any DIY project?

I think that Fdeck just did...check out his post.

Dekker · #19 09-14-2011, 06:33 AM

The nice thing about the Velleman kits is they are readily available at most local electronics supply stores.

BassmanPaul · #20 09-14-2011, 10:58 AM

Back in the Eighties when I designed my first SS system, I bought a pair of similar units to the one Fdeck posted from Radio Shack. I built them into a 1U rack case along with a pair of power supplies to phantom power for my EV condenser microphones. The VU units were fed from the speaker outputs of the dual mono power amps. I set them for 0dB being the maximum output into the speaker loads I was using.

The kit that Fdeck proposed is a very simple build but will most likely require a power supply to operate it. A little design ingenuity will be require to make the finished device "pretty" but that's about the only con I see with the project.