Analog VU Meters for your media players!

[ROBSCIX]

Hey guys, looking for new plugs for Foobar I came across these oldschool analog VU meters. You can use them with your Foobar player or open them as a stand alone visualizer. The great aspect is you can modify them and make them look how you want. They are incredibly configurable and you can find many skins for them to match certain player skins..etc.

Have a look here:-> Analog VU Meters

Here is a site that has skins, you have to expand the "+" to see the individual skins people have made. Have a look here:-> Meter Skins

The page is in Russian but it translates automatically for me.

This info was original placed in the Foobar thread but I figured people using other players might like them also.
Enjoy.

Comments?

Here are some cool examples

[N0sferatU]

they work for softer music but any modern rock it just pegs the +3 for me

[proteo]

Awesome!!!

I like these plugin, it looks great.

When I saw the title of the thread, though it would be about adding some analog VU meters to the the front panel of the computer or something similar.

[ROBSCIX]

Originally Posted by N0sferatU

they work for softer music but any modern rock it just pegs the +3 for me

Did you try modifying the settings as they are very configurable?

Originally Posted by proteo

Awesome!!!

I like these plugin, it looks great.

When I saw the title of the thread, though it would be about adding some analog VU meters to the the front panel of the computer or something similar.

I changed the title of the thread, hopefully it is a bit more descriptive.
I like meters, analyzers...etc. they are helpful for many task but aside from that they are cool to watch!

[N0sferatU]

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Did you try modifying the settings as they are very configurable?

I'm too lazy to translate Russian how do you configure?

[ROBSCIX]

Start by translating the information.

[gridiron whirlw]

Look great....I would like them...

Do I have to jump thru hoops to get them to work....i just use vanilla foobar for that very reason....some things look great....but I hate the hassel and jumping thru hoops to get them to work, when thay are really just eye -candy.

[ROBSCIX]

For those interested here is the VU editor, so you can make your own.
I know there is not alot of information and what is around needs to be translated.
Since I am kinda interested in the project myself, perhaps I will put together a tutorial and compile some of the information translate and present it here for those into this project. Give me some time though as I am a busy guy
Anyway, here is the Editor: -> VU Editor

[RagDoll_Effect]

Thanks ROBSCIX, I'm using it, the Technics one is really good, I like the peak lights

regards,
RagDoll.

[proteo]

To adjust the sensitivity of the VU meter just click in the window and use the mouse wheel to adjust it, -9.0dB and -10.0dB works fine for rock and other "loud" music, so it doesn't get stuck at the top of the scale. -7.0 and -8.0 works fine if you listen to quiet music, but dynamic compression of the mix can make even softer music to get the VU meter stuck at the top of the scale with the default settings.

Edit:

0.0dB works fine for DSD recordings, tested with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture (the one with real cannons )

[ROBSCIX]

There is an editor also so you can make and export your own VU meters.

[N0sferatU]

Originally Posted by proteo

To adjust the sensitivity of the VU meter just click in the window and use the mouse wheel to adjust it, -9.0dB and -10.0dB works fine for rock and other "loud" music, so it doesn't get stuck at the top of the scale. -7.0 and -8.0 works fine if you listen to quiet music, but dynamic compression of the mix can make even softer music to get the VU meter stuck at the top of the scale with the default settings.

Edit:

0.0dB works fine for DSD recordings, tested with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture (the one with real cannons )

Thanks man! I find -11dB is perfect for the "loud compressed" modern music as it'll peak at 0dB and not go into the red.

[emueyes]

After much looking at analog meters with varying levels of disappointment I find these, so cool ! They are exactly what I want and can be edited

Now I've (erroneously I guess) used a WSH panel and pasted the js script from the foo_vis_vumeter archive but I get an Initialisation failure.

I have really tried to get things to work, and tried to translate the Russian text, but haven't had any luck. The editor runs and seems to work properly, but some help, even a nudge, would be great.

[RagDoll_Effect]

Originally Posted by emueyes

After much looking at analog meters with varying levels of disappointment I find these, so cool ! They are exactly what I want and can be edited

Now I've (erroneously I guess) used a WSH panel and pasted the js script from the foo_vis_vumeter archive but I get an Initialisation failure.

I have really tried to get things to work, and tried to translate the Russian text, but haven't had any luck. The editor runs and seems to work properly, but some help, even a nudge, would be great.

Just use AIMP3 and change the customization to VU meter and you can even full screen it Also, Aimp3 sounds better than foobar imo

regards,
RagDoll.

[emueyes]

o my goodness I've been using foobar2k for years, and finally tired of it (lack of proper, fast-enough coverflow was the final straw, that and a slight lack of user friendliness) so went to mediamonkey, which has some beautiful coverflow ability; ultimately though, I wanted a very small mini-skin, which mm should handle, but good old winamp does better: a very small window with cover art, play controls and timers, bare bones.

I have this 'thing' for analog meters (back to the 4 track reel to reel days in my bedroom and a reminder that I can now edit waveforms at the millisecond level

Now another player to possibly have a play with. I call myself very lucky to have a free choice

[RagDoll_Effect]

Originally Posted by emueyes

o my goodness I've been using foobar2k for years, and finally tired of it (lack of proper, fast-enough coverflow was the final straw, that and a slight lack of user friendliness) so went to mediamonkey, which has some beautiful coverflow ability; ultimately though, I wanted a very small mini-skin, which mm should handle, but good old winamp does better: a very small window with cover art, play controls and timers, bare bones.

I have this 'thing' for analog meters (back to the 4 track reel to reel days in my bedroom and a reminder that I can now edit waveforms at the millisecond level

Now another player to possibly have a play with. I call myself very lucky to have a free choice

Cool, tell us what you think of AIMP3 There are more skins aswell, just search for AIMP3 and you can use WASAPI or ASIO for audio if you select it... Actually, not with onboard, but it will still sound better than Foobar IMO. Good luck with it

regards,
RagDoll.

[emueyes]

I'm using new rig atm and it's not fully finished. Once I get my beloved Xonar D2 and the Audio technica cans I'll be happy The quality of hardware can and does alter a sound signal either subtly or noticeably, but the codecs used ? Assuming everyone's on the same page as far as parameters.

On a much more related topic, how do these VU meters look/run/feel? (in media player of choice). The screenshots look fantastic, and there's a wide range of them in different skins. I simply haven't seen anything else even close in quality. So, I want I'd prefer to keep Winamp or mm or even foobar, but I'll give aimp a go if that's what it takes.

[RagDoll_Effect]

Originally Posted by emueyes

I'm using new rig atm and it's not fully finished. Once I get my beloved Xonar D2 and the Audio technica cans I'll be happy The quality of hardware can and does alter a sound signal either subtly or noticeably, but the codecs used ? Assuming everyone's on the same page as far as parameters.

On a much more related topic, how do these VU meters look/run/feel? (in media player of choice). The screenshots look fantastic, and there's a wide range of them in different skins. I simply haven't seen anything else even close in quality. So, I want I'd prefer to keep Winamp or mm or even foobar, but I'll give aimp a go if that's what it takes.

Trust me, I used winamp and foobar for a while... Then when I got AIMP3 it was like, alot better sound engine and the sound quality was better imo... Anyways, you can use all of them...lol

[ROBSCIX]

I used all the common players and learned them inside and out but found latley I have been using album player the most.
It seems to work best with the way I keep my music stored, in full albums

[analogic]

Interesting, but it brings to mind Bob Katz’s thoughts on the VU meter in his book, “Mastering Audio.”
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Audi...astering+audio
He's not a believer in VU meters for good reason.

I have not finished the entire book, but it is full of really useful information for pro audio engineers as well as enthusiasts.

Btw, I use J.River Media Center 17 with iZotope Ozone 5 VST plugin. (It also works with other media players).
Most customers will be be using it with ProTools. http://www.avid.com/US/products/family/pro-tools

Highly recommended for quality audio playback. Besides doing DSP at a professional level it has plenty of meters/graphics to watch…

[emueyes]

During my quest, I found a product from Orban (www.orban.com) which features not just VU, but ITU based and ppm measurements... it seems they at least find some value on measuring things. It's actually a little intimidating to look at and I've no idea what it's supposed to be doing, but they have pages and pages of info and a desire to sell expensive stuff.

I've got two different requirements here. The amp/speakers in the loungeroom are fed by a pc with a Xonar in it, which runs into the TV, more or less headless and controlled with DLNA and my tablet. That's for when I want to listen to music. My 'work' pc, this one, has its 892 Realtek chip, and sounds like you'd expect it to. Like I said, it's not really finished yet, so I might put a Xonat DX into it, for at least a good attempt at quality.

It's also designed to be pretty. The foobar setup I made for desktop use is pictured at http://www.flickr.com/photos/emueyes...in/photostream I just love the spectrum meter Some VU meters would fit right in, if they're subtle, and tasteful..

(Incidentally, the Xonar's big claim is a great DSP. I never use it, full stop. No enhancement, no Dolby. The fact that it has nice opamps and caps helps, too. It reproduces guitar well enough that I feel the strings in my teeth)

So. The desktop environment is mainly there to distract me from whatever I'm supposed to be doing, err I mean provide ambient stimulus to help me think. Even the G620 I have (being built, remember) doesn't care about a bit of work driving a spectrum meter. And these VU meters looked so cool I thought I'd investigate. I still am no closer to actually having that happen, having its javascript just fail to start has stumped me, I've no idea what to do next.


@ analogic I my have a look through that book; I'm actually interested in quality audio, not that you could tell from the way I carry on here

@ ROBSCIX interesting; my collection is laid out in artist_name\album_name on disk, although the tags on the files form the true hierarchy. It's more or less album based as that's how I play music, but not everything respects the album/artist tag, so handling compilation albums has always been the bane of this setup, displayed by artist there are dozens of artists with one track to their credit.


And, umm, any hints on what to do with these .vu files, the javascript that doesn't work or the Russian readme that I can't seem to feed in Unicode to Google?

[ROBSCIX]

@analogic, these VU meters are mainly for looks, if you had such software meant for actual precision metering, they would need to be calibrated for various sound levels.
These are more or less eye candy for your players.

[analogic]

Originally Posted by emueyes

(Incidentally, the Xonar's big claim is a great DSP. I never use it, full stop. No enhancement, no Dolby. The fact that it has nice opamps and caps helps, too. It reproduces guitar well enough that I feel the strings in my teeth)

Yes, I find the Xonar Essence ST is best with little or no DSP, but FlexBass management is very good with both loudspeaker and headphones!

[ROBSCIX]

@EMUeyes, I have never seen ASUS claim that the ST(X) cards have a great DSP. In fact those cards have no DSP at all. All features usually handled by a DSP chip are handled through software by your Host CPU.

The ST(X) cards claim to fame, is their high powered components, producing sound quality unseen previously at those price points.

[analogic]

@ROBSCIX Yes, I appreciate that this VU meter plugin has a certain nostalgic beauty