It would be very functional to have a VU Meter in the MixConsole. We already have the Meter Bridge which is good but why not a VU Meter as another option. Everyone knows that 0 dBVU is roughly equivalent to -18 dBFS. With such a tool in the MixConsole, it would become very easy to establish the Gain Staging for each track.
Although one could do it that way, a more accurate and fast way to solve this problem is by using the “audio > direct offline processing” function on a hotkey in order to run “normalization > loudness -18 LUFS.” This is probably my most used key command—everything that gets recorded or imported gets normalized to a known value (for my converters 0VU = -20dBFS, and I find that -22 LUFS generally corresponds with that).
What actually is the advanatge of a VU meter in a digital audio workstation other than
Real question, no trolling.
Yes, indeed, because I’m used to it. But also because, in my perception, It allows us to have a visual confirmation of the dynamic balance of a track or a group of tracks in a more natural way, closer to the way our ears work.
No. I no longer use analog devices, but only plugins emulating some of these devices.
Probably this request is linked to a certain nostalgia and memories of hours spent with analog consoles.
Do you even realise how much analog equipment is released each year and how much is already out there? Between consoles, 500 series stuff, 19" rack gear, fx pedals. And it wont be stopping anytime soon. So, sure. Cubase could be more accommodating with it’s metering. Also many ITB plugin emulations require the correct input level to properly reproduce the originals characteristics. Get her done!
You are right, there is still a lot of analog/digital equipment produced each year and I am sure that many users would appreciate or come to appreciate such accommodation in Cubase.
As I mentioned previously, personally, I find that the VU meter offers a more natural view of the dynamics inherent in an audio signal and honestly, what would be the difficulties in implementing such a tool or option in Cubase?
Here’s the big VU meter request thread, now 7 years old with 22k views:
Thank you for sharing this thread. One can deduce that progress is very slow at Steinberg, but it is generally well done.
Glad to see that there is already a mega thread on this topic! I agree that peak meters are close to useless, except for viewing peaks, of course, which is why I have mine set to gray.
A properly implemented VU meter measures average levels which correspond more to how we hear sound, plus it is convenient for interfacing with analog gear on the input and outputs. Also, a VU meter can be designed in the format of a regular vertical digital meter, it doesn’t need to look like that old style with a needle. For example, on the master meter (in Nuendo at least), if you set it to K-scale, you get a composite meter which shows average levels plus peak. Basically we should have that for all channels, just not set to K-scale but to regular digital zero. And in fact this is a very standard thing with pro gear, for example my Avocet monitor controller has both average and peak on single-color vertical meters.
Anyhow, I’ve thought this should be the default way meters work in this software for years and so I add my voice to the many others! At least make it an option, if not the default. This is kinda a no-brainer.
Glacious
Often 80 or 90% only. The remaining stuff will maybe be done 25 years later. Or maybe not at all.
After reading this old thread, I conclude that this request is still relevant. Some have raised the fact that SuperVision has a VU meter, but for me this is not the ideal option, because we are forced to use this plugin as an Insert like all other plugins of the same genre.
If ever, Steinberg decides to implement such an option, please integrate the VU meter (whether with an old-fashioned needle or digital) in the PRE section of the track, just after the gain and phase. This is where it would be most useful.
Well, you have to have hope in life and I hope that Steinberg will offer this option to its customers… one day…
While I have fond memories of my first recording device, a Marantz 4-Track with VU meters, I just can’t imagine a Cubase mixer view with VUs. It just seems like they would be way too small to be useful with many channels. Also, I can’t even imagine how much development time would be required to make them accurate and resizable when changing the channel width.
Yeah, that would make more sense. Still, not something I think is necessary (not that anyone cares about what I think 
).
I’m curious as to why Steinberg steadfastly refuses to implement industry-standard metering in their flagship products.
I use a lot of emulations of “vintage” gear (who doesn’t!) and all, without exception, use VU metering. (1176s, LA2As, channel strips, no end of other compressors.)
Sure, VUs in plugins can be cool. In the mixer, though, I’ll pass.
That’s why it should be an option.
If you like, you can also add your vote to the big thread mentioned above (vote button next to the title), if not done already.
https://forums.steinberg.net/t/vu-meter-peak-meter-both-option-for-all-audio-channels/96992
I don’t think it would be that useful. But why not. Adding measurement views are useful. Many other daws have a gain-reduction meter. A LUFS or something that are slower might be useful for big projects to reduce load.
LUFS is an aggregate value that is constantly calculated, so I’m not sure it would reduce any processor load. Perhaps even the opposite.
There is a OR in there for a reason.
