Old 04-20-2010, 06:40 AM   #1
jdutaillis
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Default Pre Fader Monitoring

Is there a way to set the VU meters in REAPER to PRE fader monitoring? I can't for the life of me find it anywhere!
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:11 AM   #2
Mike Thrussell
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Isn't it monitor>input?
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:45 AM   #3
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Nope, don't think it's possible yet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Thrussell View Post
Isn't it monitor>input?
Yes, but only for the signal that is coming from hardware, not
for what has already been recorded.
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:50 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EricM View Post
Nope, don't think it's possible yet.
...
Yes, but only for the signal that is coming from hardware, not
for what has already been recorded.
I'm going to agree with EricM: I don't think it's possible (yet).
HOWEVER, you could throw one of the many metering plugins as the first thing in the plugin chain and that will get you a "pre-fader/pre-eq" meter. Clumsy, but it works.
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Old 04-20-2010, 04:00 PM   #5
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Wow this seems crazy!

I've only ever used pre-fader monitoring, I'm not sure why anyone would want to monitor post-fader at all!

Do you guys know if anyone has put in a feature request for this one? I assume it must be a pretty simple thing to implement..
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Old 04-20-2010, 05:20 PM   #6
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If you let us know what you're trying to do, it may make a bit more sense, as we all use reaper for different purposes. It SOUNDS like what you want is possible using the monitor/input option on the meters as mentioned. This allows you to see the input signal pre-fader/fx for stuff coming into reaper. If you're wanting to monitor pre-fader for already recorded stuff, then no, there doesn't seem to be that option (and its not an option I would ever use myself, so do you have a description of why you would use it that way?)
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Old 04-20-2010, 05:42 PM   #7
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what about recording on, say track 1-- send to track 2 and track 3 and monitor from
track 2 and 3 ? fx and fader changes an track2..dry 0db trk 3
do not adjust track 1 at all

send all new recorded tracks to track 3 for input/prefader monitor on a single track-add fx to track three for making the headphone recording mix sound "cool"

I dont know if I am saying this right
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Old 04-20-2010, 06:03 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moliere View Post
If you let us know what you're trying to do, it may make a bit more sense, as we all use reaper for different purposes. It SOUNDS like what you want is possible using the monitor/input option on the meters as mentioned. This allows you to see the input signal pre-fader/fx for stuff coming into reaper. If you're wanting to monitor pre-fader for already recorded stuff, then no, there doesn't seem to be that option (and its not an option I would ever use myself, so do you have a description of why you would use it that way?)
I'm wanting to monitor pre-fader for all recorded material. ie. so when you adjust the fader it doesn't change whats happening on the VU meters. They just show the levels reaching them.

This is a standard feature on all audio equipment I've ever used. This way you can monitor the gain structure as it is coming from the region, or out of the FX plugins etc.

I personally don't see the point in monitoring post fader as it does not provide me any useful information. But I'm willing to be proven wrong!
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Old 04-20-2010, 06:05 PM   #9
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Pre-fader monitoring is useful when you're gain staging, sometimes seeing the signal level as it's going into the fx stack is more important than the output metering.

I believe there is a tracker request but I don't have time to look this minute, maybe someone else can find it more quickly than I'll get a chance to look.
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:49 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdutaillis View Post
This is a standard feature on all audio equipment I've ever used. This way you can monitor the gain structure as it is coming from the region, or out of the FX plugins etc.
I can now understand why you'd want it for gain staging etc, and why its been mandatory on hardware for years (because things will clip otherwise), I guess I've just got used to a 64bit signal path where you have to be doing something really wrong to clip anything, and alot of plugins tend to have input and output metering on their own.

Post fader metering is important for any post fader hardware sends, and for general visual indication of mix level (which most people seem to use it for)

definitely try and find an FR and vote, I'm pretty sure i've seen one before.
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Old 04-20-2010, 10:39 PM   #11
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Pre Fader monitoring is indeed essential, I'm sure I've seen a FR
for this and have likely voted.
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Old 04-21-2010, 01:34 AM   #12
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FR with Yes/No poll added here:

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=56310

Please vote guys! Reaper NEEDS this simple option!
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Old 04-21-2010, 02:08 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdutaillis View Post
FR with Yes/No poll added here:

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=56310

Please vote guys! Reaper NEEDS this simple option!
Thanks for setting up that poll, but you probably want to raise a feature request, where people can vote, otherwise people have to vote twice.

Go here

Yves
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Old 04-21-2010, 04:19 AM   #14
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I know this doesn't solve a proper switchable pre-fader mode, but
since it hasn't been mentioned in this thread just thought I'd add (I may have overlooked it or it's obvious):

When a track is record armed and track monitoring is on, Reaper's VU automatically changes to pre-fader for that track.

Last edited by nofish; 04-21-2010 at 04:34 AM.
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Old 04-21-2010, 04:56 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nofish View Post
When a track is record armed and track monitoring is on, Reaper's VU automatically changes to pre-fader for that track.
... but not for what is on track (as in play mode), it's pre fader
live input monitoring
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Old 04-21-2010, 05:19 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EricM View Post
... but not for what is on track (as in play mode), it's pre fader
live input monitoring
Yeah, I've been sloppy.
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Old 04-21-2010, 06:04 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yhertogh View Post
Thanks for setting up that poll, but you probably want to raise a feature request, where people can vote, otherwise people have to vote twice.

Go here

Yves
Cheers, will fix this. Sorry I'm new around these parts
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Old 04-21-2010, 06:51 AM   #18
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+1 again to this old FR. You really need three switchable points for the channel meter...



Last edited by Lawrence; 04-15-2012 at 07:22 PM.
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Old 04-21-2010, 08:19 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdutaillis View Post
Cheers, will fix this. Sorry I'm new around these parts
ok, feature request added in correct location!

http://forum.cockos.com/project.php?issueid=2355

Sorry for the mix up guys.
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Old 05-07-2010, 05:11 AM   #20
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*BUMP!* For Scott
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Old 12-03-2010, 04:11 AM   #21
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Bump! Essential!!!!
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Old 12-03-2010, 07:07 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beingmf View Post
Bump! Essential!!!!
This and rms are my main two wishes to complete reaper's mixing skills
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Old 12-03-2010, 08:28 AM   #23
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Workaround: unity gain pre-fader send to a second otherwise unused track. Watch the meter on this second track.

For bonus points, use REAPER 4 and use a no-meter layout for the main track and a meter-only layout for the second track.
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Old 12-03-2010, 08:50 AM   #24
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I don't get it. You want meters that show you what the volume would be if you hadn't changed a tracks volume levels or added plugins to it when you have changed the tracks volume level and added plugins.

What's the point?

That's like wanting to see a picture of the ingredients used to make your meal before you eat it.

Who cares?

Last edited by Guncho; 12-03-2010 at 11:43 AM.
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Old 12-03-2010, 09:23 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guncho View Post
I don't get. You want meters that show you what the volume would be if you hadn't changed a tracks volume levels or added plugins to it when you have changed the tracks volume level and added plugins.

What's the point?

That's like wanting to see a picture of the ingredients used to make your meal before you eat it.

Who cares?
Personally I want to monitor an effected signal (e.g. guitar amp sim) while checking via the meter that the dry signal is not clipping at the input. But maybe I'm pointless...
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Old 12-03-2010, 04:10 PM   #26
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I'm REALLY hoping this is part of V4! It is an ESSENTIAL part of REAPER becoming a truly professional DAW.

If you don't get it, then don't worry!
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Old 12-03-2010, 04:17 PM   #27
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This is a very needed feature for mixing. +1
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Old 12-04-2010, 06:41 PM   #28
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Default pre fader monitoring

I juste start with reaper and I miss this feature .
pre fader monitoring is realy important to make a
good primary level on a track
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Old 03-29-2012, 10:22 AM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feusté View Post
I juste start with reaper and I miss this feature .
pre fader monitoring is realy important to make a
good primary level on a track


I don't see the point in pre-fader metering. Whenever I record I monitor input via soundcard's meters. Then I use a method described in mixing with your mind book, every track is soloed and fader raised fully, then adjust trim so each track averages 0VU=-20DBFS. So you know you aren't clipping anyway as your post fader meters would show clipping same as pre-fader ones would IMHO.
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Old 04-15-2012, 06:52 PM   #30
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Just wanted to add my 2c... This is indeed necessary! Can't believe the option doesn't exist in a DAW with so many options!
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Old 04-15-2012, 07:04 PM   #31
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Well this thread is coming up to its second birthday now!

Common Cockos, do us proud!
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Old 04-15-2012, 07:07 PM   #32
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Can you get away with it by arming a track to record, then right click the red record button and click "Record Disabled:Input monitoring only" as this will allow you to mess with the inputs, do PREFADER checks on volumes without recording anything on that track while recording other tracks at the same time.

Again sorry but just a weird way that you may be able to do it
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Old 04-15-2012, 07:27 PM   #33
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Yea this will get you though the most critical point of monitoring, but as others have mentioned for gain staging purposes it really should be an option at all times. IMO post fader meters really add very little information (as what's the point of meters if not for gain staging?)
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Old 04-15-2012, 07:50 PM   #34
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The reason I posted that is because I use that live a lot to see the levels ( kind of a backup to see if levels are dropping spikes in audio, when FX units go off and on.. that kind of thing.
I record a guitar always with 2 tracks
1 track recording and 1 track set to "recording disabled:monitoring only"
So that I get a true feel on the VU to see how much level FX changes your input level (gaining)


I approve, we should have that feature but VCA GROUPS like protools 9 or 10 native has would be my hope for REAPER this year.
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Old 06-18-2012, 02:18 PM   #35
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Had to make an account just to bump this thread. The absence of pre-fader metering makes Reaper difficult for me to use for serious mixing.

The post-fader levels are completely useless, as meters are really only useful for gain-staging and some sort of visual representation of what's going on in a muted/quiet track.

It would be interesting to hear Cocko's perspective on this, and if there's a philosophical reason why they feel it shouldn't be a feature, or if they've coded themselves into a corner and just can't route the signal where it needs to go in order to pull that off.
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Old 06-18-2012, 03:51 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guncho View Post
I don't get it. You want meters that show you what the volume would be if you hadn't changed a tracks volume levels or added plugins to it when you have changed the tracks volume level and added plugins.

What's the point?

That's like wanting to see a picture of the ingredients used to make your meal before you eat it.

Who cares?
That's not what this is. This should display EVERYTHING that happens before the faders (which would include plugins).
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Old 10-14-2012, 05:38 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brentturbeaux View Post
Had to make an account just to bump this thread. The absence of pre-fader metering makes Reaper difficult for me to use for serious mixing.

The post-fader levels are completely useless, as meters are really only useful for gain-staging and some sort of visual representation of what's going on in a muted/quiet track.

It would be interesting to hear Cocko's perspective on this, and if there's a philosophical reason why they feel it shouldn't be a feature, or if they've coded themselves into a corner and just can't route the signal where it needs to go in order to pull that off.

I have to agree with this. I'm working on a 24 track live recording (chamber orchestra). It was done quick and dirty, meaning that I need to mute down sections of each track (instrument) when there's nothing being played. I need a way to monitor everything (muted or not) to double check my work-- so I can mute or un-mute any tracks that were overlooked.

Pre-fader (mute etc.) source monitoring is essential for sanity checking when dealing with larger mixes.
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Old 10-14-2012, 08:25 PM   #38
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I'm not desperate for this but it would be good to have...

It's one of the standard features in Steinbergs DAW, where you actually have an input trim like on a hardware board...

That would be kewl to see again but this time in reaper...

On the other hand, I can see it in the control panel for the audio card, eh?
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Old 10-14-2012, 09:52 PM   #39
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I find putting a vu meter plug at the the start of the 'input fx' chain useful...

Steve
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Old 10-14-2012, 10:13 PM   #40
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You can also throw a trim plug in there...but I guess the only way to monitor after it's been recorded is to throw a vu at the start of the standard fx chain (as has already been mentioned)...this would indeed be handy to have as a monitoring option...

Steve

Last edited by Steve36; 10-14-2012 at 10:30 PM.
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