The Big Meter

To get a better overview of the levels of a particular channel pair you can bring up the Big Meter on the Hardware
Interface.

1.	Click the “Big METER” button on the front panel.

The “Big Meter” panel shows up.

2.	Select the Input or Output pairs to view in the Big Meter by clicking on the corresponding Channel Selection button below each Input or Output pairs.

Alternatively, select channel by turning the Channel Selection knob.

It’s also possible to select various Meter Modes, or combinations of Meter Modes, by clicking the Meter Mode button to the far left.

The available Meter Modes are:

•

VU

The VU Mode simulates the behavior of analog meters and shows the RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the signal. Since the RMS value is an "average" of the signal level over time it's not suited for detecting fast transients in the sound. Rather, VU meters are useful for monitoring the overall loudness of the signal.

In VU Mode, the meter response is 300 ms/20 dB for both attack and release. There is no peak segment in the meter.

The VU Offset can be set in 2 dB steps between -20 and 0 dB, by turning the VU Offset knob.

This setting determines how the VU dB scale relates to the Peak dB scale. If you have no specific preference in this matter, you don't need to change the VU Offset.

The VU Offset setting will affect the readout of all Meters on the Main Mixer channel strips and on their corresponding Rack devices.

•

PPM

In PPM (Peak Program Meter) Mode, the meter response is 0 ms rise and 2.8 s/24 dB fall. The PPM Mode is perfect for detecting transients in the sound. There is no peak segment in the meter.

•

PEAK

In PEAK Mode, the meter response is 0 ms for both rise and fall, which means that this mode provides the most accurate representation of the signal level over time. Since the fall time is 0 ms, it could be quite distracting to the eyes to watch the meters in PEAK mode. If so, the PPM Mode might be more convenient since it's equally fast at responding to transients, but falls more slowly.

The peak segment (the rightmost LED segment, indicating the highest level) has a fall time according to the Peak Hold parameter setting (5 seconds or infinite). This allows you to more easily spot very brief level peaks.

•

VU+PEAK

In VU+PEAK Mode, the meter response is according to the VU Mode, plus a peak segment.

•

PPM+PEAK

In PPM+PEAK Mode, the meter response is according to the PPM Mode, plus a peak segment.

If the audio level for the selected is, or have been, too high, the Clip indicators on the Big Meter will stay lit until you click the “Reset” button, or select new audio channels for the Big Meter. See “About audio levels” for more information on how to use and work with the Big Meter.