Home Forums Peripherals & Multimedia iTunes, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV VU meter

OS 10.5.8

I've never seen a posting regarding this before but is it possible to connect a VU meter to a computer to adjust the volume on itunes?
jaybass

the more sensible approach would seem to be to have itunes adjust its volume per song. when you import a song it scans "determining volume level..." and you can adjust that (somewhat) per song.

Though on numerous occasions I've had to export a song to an audio tool, amp it a couple hundred percent, and drop it back in because itunes (and thus my ipod) could not turn up the volume loud enough to be properly heard.

I've never seen an "external feedback" solution as you are looking for.

Just thought I would ask.

I do have ivolume and it is pretty good but you do have to tweak some of the itunes occasionally.

Thanks for your reply,

jaybass

I can't help with information concerning the physical connection but I can make a suggestion concerning metering in general. If you are talking about an actual VU Meter (with the needle) you would be better off to look for a PPM (Peak Program Meter) of some type.

The problem with a VU Meter is that it is ballistically very slow compared to a PPM. This means that the needle is too slow to reflect the actual level that is going through your equipment. By time the needle travels upward the peak has come and gone and the needle falls. The result is that you end up with distortion from peak program levels that occurred but which your meter was too slow to detect.

A PPM, on the other hand, reads peaks instantly.

ryck

I did some browsing and there is such an animal but the price is way out my league.
I was looking at Trinnov's smart meter which can be hooked up to a PC or Mac for just under 5Gs Can.
There are others too but for what I was hoping for doesn't justify the price. Ah well.
jaybass

I had a look at it on their site and it seems to provide pretty good monitoring (including PPM and quasi-PPM). In addition to fast upward ballistics you also want slow decay to give you a better feel for averages.

ryck