How it works
The needle moves as the standard for VU meters (IEC 60268-17) describes: it takes 300 ms to rise and swings just past the value before it settles. MasterBar works that needle out sample by sample, so it moves the same at any frame rate.
Because the needle is slow on purpose, it misses short peaks. The peak light catches them: it lights for a second when a sample reaches the level you choose.
Which level is 0 VU
Choose the level that puts the needle at 0, each with what it is for:
- −18 dBFS, Mixing: the usual studio level. Solo a track and keep it around 0, and plugins that model analog gear get the level they expect.
- −20 dBFS, Film & TV: more room above, as for film and broadcast.
- −14 dBFS, Streaming: a finished master around −14 LUFS reads about 0.
- −12, −10 and −8 dBFS: for loud masters, loud club and EDM masters and very loud masters.
Settings
- Channel: a needle each for left and right, or one needle for both together (the sound in mono).
- 0 VU: the level that reads 0, as above.
- Peak Light: at −6, −3 or 0 dBFS (a clip), or off.
- Module color: nine colours to choose from, or any of your own.
- Separate Module, Duplicate, Rename, Delete: put it in a window of its own, add a copy (Command-D), give it a name (Command-R) or take it off the bar.
Questions
- VU or LUFS? Both show the average level. LUFS is weighted like the ear and is what streaming services use; the VU needle is the quick, familiar view while you set levels.
- Why is the needle in the red on my master? A finished master is much louder than a mix. Set 0 VU to −14 dBFS or higher.