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Old 09-18-2020, 04:10 PM   #1
Codeseven
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Default How to set Gain/Volume into Plugin(s)

Simple question but I’ve got myself confused enough not to know an answer.

I just want to start my plugin stack at -18dbfs RMS (as that seems to be a general consensus range to run into plugins), specifically Slate Trigger 2. I have a Klanghelm VUMT meter but despite looking at the manual I don’t know how to use it.

I’m recording drums and most concerned about the snare and kick. The snare seems it would be particularly difficult to get an accurate RMS reading on because of the varying quiet ghost notes compared to the smack of a rim shot. How can the VUMT meter show me the averages?

I would really appreciate someone explaining how to use the VUMT meter, the videos I’ve come across all talk about it’s features and not so much about how to read it.

My interface gain is set so the meters in Reaper peak at about -6.

Signal path- Mics->Presonus Quantum->Reaper 6.


Thanks
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Old 09-18-2020, 04:37 PM   #2
ashcat_lt
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Just record it loud enough so it doesn't have too much noise but low enough that it doesn't clip. Adjust the sensitivity knob in the Slate thing so that it triggers the way you want.

For other plugins, if input volume matters, they usually have knobs for that too, and you adjust that until it sounds good.

Ignore anybody who tells you different because they're just parroting half-understood information about general rules of thumb that never actually applied to much of anything.
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Old 09-18-2020, 05:25 PM   #3
Codeseven
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Thanks ashcat.

I’ve been driving myself crazy wanting to get the signal into Trigger correctly. I keep reading it’s critical for plugins emulating analog gear like drums to receive the right gain in order to operate correctly. Lots of opinions out there. Figured I better buy a good VU meter plugin or I’ll risk screwing it up
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Old 09-19-2020, 10:54 AM   #4
Codeseven
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Well, I figure since I bought the VUMT I should at least know how to read it

I was thinking, something that would really help is if I could send a known value signal thru Reaper it would give me a great visual of how that known value looks on the different meters at different settings.

Is that something that a tone generator (or other plugin) can be used for? How would I go about doing that?
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Old 09-19-2020, 01:40 PM   #5
ashcat_lt
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You might be better off using something like pink noise. Insert plugin before meter in the FX of any track. Learn what you can.

The thing is though that RMS is an average over time, and a snare doesn’t generally last very long. It’ll be REALLY LOUD for few ms, then decay quickly and then there’s a bunch of silence til the next hit. Average that over (standard VU time) 300ms, and it comes out pretty low. Try to turn it up to average -18dbFS, and it’ll very likely clip.
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Old 09-19-2020, 03:14 PM   #6
Codeseven
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Thanks ash, I’ll check that out.

I used the JS: Tone Generator, placed it first in line and set it to -18.0, then went thru the various available VUMT screens to see what -18 looked like and how changing the Trim Levels and Types affected things, pretty interesting and really helped me to visualize it.

Is ‘pink noise’ much different than using the Tone Generator tone? Or better suited for what I’m trying to accomplish? Thanks
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