Tape Project Albums > Waltz for Debby
VU LEVELS
steveidosound:
--- Quote from: mep on September 22, 2009, 05:58:44 AM ---Tim-my basic question has gone unanswered. My question is, what levels are other people seeing when they play back Waltz for Debby? The levels seem very low to me and I wanted to know if other people are experiencing the same thing or not. I played the Robert Cray tape last night and the levels are much hotter on that tape. And again, I think Waltz for Debbie sounds great.
--- End quote ---
Sorry to be another "non-answer" to your specific question, but it is important to remember that VU meters, especially analog ones are far closer to average than peak reading devices. So if the average level is lower, on a tape with more dynamic range in the program (peak vs. average level) the meters would read lower on average than on something with less dynamic range where the average is up closer to the peak level. I would guess that the good folks at the Tape Project master to the highest level possible without distortion or messing with the relative levels of the source master (compression).
Tim:
My answer was that a possible reason for your abnormally low meter readings was because your output control was not at it's proper "calibrate" position. Your meters will only read correctly at that one specific knob setting.
I have a TP tape (not Waltz for Debby) and it's max VU indication was "0" VU on a deck set up for +6 operating level (0VU=355 nWb/m)
mep:
Geez, a simple question and still no answer. There is no "calibrate" postion on my level cotrols. I normally keep them in same position.
astrotoy:
Mark, I'm no expert in this area, but here is a suggestion. Play your TP calibration tape on your machine. What is the VU meter reading? Then you can see the relative reading of your Waltz for Debby. The other experts - like Time and Steve can let you know whether your Waltz is low compared with theirs. I don't have a comparison on my Technics, since the Bottlehead mods disable the VU meters. My Otari has a calibration position as Tim mentioned. Larry
steveidosound:
--- Quote from: mep on September 22, 2009, 10:32:18 AM ---Geez, a simple question and still no answer. There is no "calibrate" postion on my level cotrols. I normally keep them in same position.
--- End quote ---
Don't you have a small switch by your output level knob that says "SRL" (standard reference level) that turns on an LED marked the same?
That is what my 4 ch. MX5050 has. When this is on the output level is fixed and the control is bypassed.
Time for the real experts to step in. I don't have a way of giving you relative meter levels on TP tapes either.
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