A former friend had one to use to call the cops on his noisy neighbors. He had a special number he called, and he would report the level from the sidewalk. It got swift results, as the admonition was the police would be back to confiscate the equipment if they had another complaint.But as described that is certainly not an 'at home' procedure for the average user! Then again I am sure there is someone on here that has one just for personal use
Thanks, I had a mental block for that brand name! And Google images were no help, oddly.
SPL meter or calibration setup for it? Meters we all have, but if they are +/-8dB no real use for setting levels.
About peak meters, one can make a difference between traditional peak meter with 10mS of velocity, that indicate pretty well the subjective feeling of the musical peaks, with their natural logarithmic scale. While digital peak meters, with no speed integration are just useful to ensure we never go upper than the 100% wall.
I love needles, because they move in a natural way for the eyes, with very thin resolution, while diodes are pretty crude with some 1 or 3dB steps (or even more at low levels).
I love needles, because they move in a natural way for the eyes, with very thin resolution, while diodes are pretty crude with some 1 or 3dB steps (or even more at low levels).
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I have an ELM317 OBD2 adaptor that BT connects to my smartphone.
In conjunction with Torque Pro software, I have instant real time display of every engine parameter you could only dream of, lol.
I have a seized open thermostat (until I change it), so I have sheets of cardboard blanking the radiator, and adjustable as required according to engine temp.
Trip instantaneous and trip average fuel consumption are the other displays I watch !.
My dad has a pair of original/vintage WE VU meters mounted on a panel fixed to the wall above the shed audio system, monitoring source programme line level (A-400x amplifier rec out)
They are driven from an opamp stage with series resistor so display correct ballistics.
It takes practice and familiarity to learn to interpret the needle swings and how they correlate to what you are hearing.
Once learned, VU meters do provide a very useful gauge, and are enjoyable to watch if nothing else.
The (slow) attack characteristic makes sense and correlate quite well with perceived SPL.
A few peak level leds set for useful particular momentary peak levels would be a useful addition, but not strictly necessary.
Dan.
Trust me having done some engine tuning I can dream of a LOT of parameters, but looking at them in real time is not always helpful. But big data logs from a drive can be very useful.
Its a case of reach for the headphones I am afraid.
After 9 years of apartment living in Asia, I will in the next 8 weeks or so be ensconced back in a house at home again.
I have already warned my wife that there will be aural consequences.
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Why would you want to? It's not like I'm going to put my stereo on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera and listen to it from the third row of the Dress Circle. I certainly don't want to create levels like an opera singer or massed choir are in my living room a couple of meters away!
What constitutes "natural levels" for rock music? A concert setting? Is that in an arena, a stadium, some other outdoor venue? How far from the stage? How far from speakers? Or a club setting? A living room? I'm serious about that, I've been to some good parties with a live band set up in the living room of a house. I have also heard rock musicians playing in rehearsal spaces, and in a domestic setting using a mix of electric and acoustic instruments.
One thing of which I am certain is that there is no "natural" level for rock music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IM00CHse6c
The relevant part starts about 5:15, but if it's the kind of thing you like, you'll like the whole thing.
Chris
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