Bugfix update for the VU Meter with auto gain staging
We’ve just released an update for VUMeter MK4, our VU meter with automatic gain staging.
The HoRNet VUMeter MK4 is a digital VU meter plugin that includes automatic gain adjustment and grouping features. It allows you to name your tracks and groups, and you can send parameter changes to any instance of VUMeter MK4, not just those within the same group. Additionally, you can view the level of any other instance in your project without closing the interface or switching tracks.
VUMeter MK4 is helpful in both recording and mixing phases. While recording, the VU meter acts as a loudness indicator, offering a clear view of your signal’s perceived volume. With a 300ms integration time, it gives an accurate reading of your signal’s loudness. You can pair it with peak meters to fine-tune your mic placement and ensure your loudness and peak values are closely aligned.
The plugin features a calibration option that lets you set the 0VU point according to the ideal level for your A/D converters. By default, it’s set to -18dBFS, but you should refer to your converter’s specifications and adjust accordingly for optimal headroom. Proper calibration is essential since every A/D converter has an analog front end, and recording too close to 0dBFS can overload this stage.
During mixing, VUMeter MK4 becomes even more useful. You can use it alongside your DAW’s peak meters to spot problematic tracks, particularly those with too much transient energy and insufficient loudness.
One of the standout features of VUMeter MK4 is the automatic gain function. Proper gain staging is critical in mixing, especially when using analog-modeled plugins that can distort if overloaded. This distortion can accumulate and negatively affect the mix.
To avoid this, you can activate the automatic gain feature, which adjusts the internal gain to ensure your signal peaks at the desired level. You can set this target level anywhere between -3 and +3 VU.
For transient-heavy tracks, the auto-gain feature may raise the levels too much, leading to clipping. To prevent this, we’ve added a peak ceiling feature, which limits the signal from exceeding the set value.
The grouping feature allows you to manage multiple instances of VUMeter MK4 together. For example, you can group all your drum tracks and apply auto-gain, reference, and color settings to the entire group in one click. The “Send to all” option lets you quickly apply a parameter change to every instance of VUMeter MK4 in your project, even those outside the group.
The new 4.2.3 version introduces the following improvements:
This update is free for all existing users and can be downloaded from the user area or via DoIn.
