True dB metering on track sliders / master

supster · Post by **supster** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:51 pm

the current interface is very minimilische and austere, and in some ways this is great

however: why no true dB metering scales on the sliders? espeically on the master?

on individual tracks this is not so crucial, but when tweaking the master out we really could use a meter that tells us how close we are to 0dB - switchable from peak to RMS

its a basic thing ...
.

kent_sandvik · Post by **kent_sandvik** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:06 pm

Yep. Meanwhile use the freebie Inspector from Elemental Audio:

http://www.elementalaudio.com/downloads/index.html

Livewire · Post by **Livewire** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:30 am

look in the bottom left corner when tweaking the level of a track. it says the dB right there.

supster · Post by **supster** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:54 am

Livewire wrote:look in the bottom left corner when tweaking the level of a track. it says the dB right there.

interesting. never noticed that

that measures the absolute position of the slider though, it doesnt actually measure the changing level of the track.
.

Livewire · Post by **Livewire** » Sun May 01, 2005 2:47 am

it would be cool to have an option to make the level of tracks "dynamic". this means that the little slider will move up and down automatically to achieve the desired output. in other words, it would be a real-time normalizer.

but to take this further, when you turn this option on, another slider will appear on the left side of the meter (maybe have the slider a bit faded so you dont get it confused with the main one). this extra slider that appears will be for setting the desired dB output you want for the track.

i think that would be very useful. you'll never have to worry about a track clipping (including your master track), or being too low.

thats my idea.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:56 pm

meanwhile, how do you reset the master fader to -0db without switching to arrange view?

Chris Cowie · Post by **Chris Cowie** » Sun May 01, 2005 3:40 pm

Machinate wrote:meanwhile, how do you reset the master fader to -0db without switching to arrange view?

As far as I know you cant. I have tried every combination of key commands on both mac and PC.

Another highly irritating feature of Live is it seems there is no way to control a volume fader precisely with a key comand and fader movement. All I get is

0.6 0.46 0.85 1.64 etc etc. The jump from 0.85 to 1.64 is much to high.

Obviosuly I must be missing something as this is really basic DAw stuff.

Anyone know of a key command or something?

Cheers

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun May 01, 2005 3:58 pm

Actually, bjorn just reminded me of the proper key for resetting a selected fader: backspace.

Livewire · Post by **Livewire** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:25 pm

oh sweet. backspace did it. how come ableton doesnt have all these extremely useful keyboard shortcuts in the manual?

i think they should ditch the pdf format and go html for the manual. its faster to open and easier to search.

mnsh · Post by **mnsh** » Sun May 01, 2005 6:31 pm

When a fader is selected, you can also set it's value by simply typing it and pressing enter. So, typing 0 and pressing enter would reset it.

Chris Cowie · Post by **Chris Cowie** » Sun May 01, 2005 7:40 pm

Aaah trghe backspace key. Not exactly obvious.

What about changing DB values accurately though?

typing in numbers to change volume isnt exactly a nice way to mix a track.

Ableton?

Anyone?

Chris Cowie · Post by **Chris Cowie** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:48 am

ABLETON?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:37 am

Chris Cowie wrote:Aaah trghe backspace key. Not exactly obvious.

What about changing DB values accurately though?

typing in numbers to change volume isnt exactly a nice way to mix a track.

Ableton?

Anyone?

You can reset it with the backspace key. lower or raise the value with the arrow keys or type in the value.
Or you can control it with midi controllers.

Had any other ways in mind?

Cheers

Bjorn

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:07 am

Delete also resets all knobs/faders.

Chris Cowie · Post by **Chris Cowie** » Mon May 02, 2005 2:54 pm

hoffman2k wrote:
Chris Cowie wrote:Aaah trghe backspace key. Not exactly obvious.

What about changing DB values accurately though?

typing in numbers to change volume isnt exactly a nice way to mix a track.

Ableton?

Anyone?
You can reset it with the backspace key. lower or raise the value with the arrow keys or type in the value.
Or you can control it with midi controllers.

Had any other ways in mind?

Cheers

Bjorn

Hey Bjorn,

thanks for the info I will try that later

I dont use a controller of any sorts so mixing has to be done with the mouse and those DB jumps are not helping this area. I know I can do this in the arrange page but thats a bit longwinded when in teh heat of the moment mixing.

Seems like a modifier key while dragging the fader should be implemented. Surely ableton cant assume were all using controlers.

Thanks again Bjorn,

Oh, and Ableton, thanks for giving this issue zero interest at all. I guess a accurate volume changes is old fashioned or something