Audio
control
If you are going to record good sound, you must learn
the basic principles of audio control.The first, and
most important device is the "VU meter."
VU
Meter:
The VU meter is a simple device, but I find that lots
of people just don't know how to read it or use it.
That's too bad, because proper use of the VU meter is
the key to good quality audio.
VU
stand for "volume units". That is,
VU meters measure the volume of a given source of audio.
Importantly, VU meters tell you NOTHING about the loudness
of the sound coming out of the speakers; instead they
represent the volume of sound being recorded (or played
back) off of tape. Big difference.
For
example, you can turn up your stereo to play your CDs
really loud (or play your music very soft), but that
doesn't change the volume of what's on the CD. VU meters
show you the volume of what's actually on (or going
on) the CD (or videotapes, etc)
There
are two types of VU meters, but they provide
the same information. Some VU meters have a
bouncing needle; others display a series of
green and red lights. In either case, the display
changes according to the volume of the incoming
sound; or the sound being played back. Why two
types of meters if they measure the same thing?
Bouncing needles are better, but the green-red
light version is cheaper to build.
