Some really interesting descriptions there, Thanks Bill W, and John R
I'm just thinking my way thru it for a while!
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The very finest VU meters I have used, the ones from mci tape machines (early ones) with the large motor are the triplett us made ones.
They have an internal bridge of sorts, using some ancient glass diode type (red and green painted bands on clear glass diode body)
Anyway, these things are seriously fast and precise ballistics ... on the e-gtr (clean) and e-bass they respond to the smallest detail, even though they are 'averaging meters' as has been said.
I have used them with a variety of buffers, including with the mci active buffer pcb that mechanically couples to the meter, providing balanced buffering, with adjustment and some rails for lights (x2).
The best meter with a fine buffer circuit - the other one I use is the jlm vu meter buffer module (now in stereo)
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I never got to make a really good led ladder based metering pair for the main mix. I think there are some better solutions around for the diy person nowadays, as compared to 15 years ago when I started diy in earnest (and wound down my main gig quickly).
I use the TC ELectronics FInalizer a lot for the great 'led array' metering ... and nowadays, as I have it on my lounge TV monitor, I use the 'sample rate convert' function alot too. It really cleans up the hokey digital outputs on the TV, 'media box' and 'dvd recorder box'
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Oh yes, and for 'edgewise' vu meters with proper motor assembly and ballistics, there is some us made 'simpson' ones that do get around from time to time. These are classic with the curved jewel plastic display casing that sits 'proud' of the facia front
Just superb in the movement too (for a 'vertical needle' edgwise type!) - large and 'see-able' with some good strong backlighting (not included!)
It really is the 'transparent' vu meter ... the whole case is super clear and light transmissable (for such a substantial magnetic assembly) and so lighting up is pretty easy (light er up, boys!)
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They (triplett, simpson) do ship with the 'terminator' as I recall, on a 'springy wire' link, .. one replaces it with the supplied little 3K6, 2W ceramic wire resistor .. or something like that .. in series.
I know when I record the 'clean stringed instruments', direct or mic ...
- they go into my 'la-2a build' that has proper 'gr' and 'vu' metering on seperate 'mci / tripletts' with pink led-bar backlighting ... the tripletts get dancing in opposition to each other ... I don't really want for any better metering.