Audio Level Meters by Paul Marshall
Applause meter ... or 'Clap-
Wide Range Peak Meter with Phase Correlation
Peak Programme Meter with bar display
Level Meter with Digital readout for accurate steady state measurements
Level Meter with Digital readout combined with a Sine Wave Test Generator
'Analogue' BBC-
Peak Programme Meter Special Edition for the visually impaired
New -
For accurate RECORDING.
I designed these audio level meter programs to allow the optimum setting of input levels for various sound recording functions, particularly for video editing. When capturing video and sound from different sources accurate level setting helps maintain a consistency of volume across various clips, and therefore eases the sound mixing.
IT DOES NOT INDICATE PLAYBACK OUTPUT LEVELS. There is no way I know to access the output from another program. This meter indicates only what is fed into the wave input channel. To monitor playback output levels feed the wave output back into the wave input, either externally with a cable or by using the Windows Mixer ‘What You Hear’ option if you have it. Ofetn Vista and Windows 7 do not, but see the note below about enabling this feature.
My meters can be very useful operated in this way but for accurate work you would
need to calibrate it. As an aid to calibration here is a Calibration Tone Wave File
you can download*. This is a 400Hz tone recorded at a level of 4dB below Full Scale
Digital. Playback this file and set up the meter so this reads '6' or +8dB on the
scale, or just at the start of the red. * Right-
Requirements: A soundcard capable of 44.1KHz 16 bit stereo sampling is required. Windows XP, Vista or 7 recommended.
It is possible to have dozens of instances of the Level Meter running simultaneously if one was mad enough. The processor load is very small.
Using this meter with Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / ME
With Windows versions prior to XP it is not normally possible to use the meter at the same time as other programs which are recording audio. This is because there is normally only one wave input channel, even though there may be several playback channels available simultaneously. Use the level meter to preview prior to recording. Set up levels, then close the level meter before starting the actual recording program.
However, it is now possible to add a tool called 'Wave Clone' which will allow simultaneous use of the meter and other audio programs. Visit the Wave Clone web site for more information.
Accessing the Options. Right-
Calibration. 0dB on the VU-
If you find the meter doesn't seem to peak high enough, or you get distortion you may have to adjust the sensitivity. See Adjusting the Calibration for more details.
A word about Sample Rate.
This program samples at 44.1KHz 16 bit stereo. I'm often asked for a version which
works at 48KHz. It is not necessary. The PPM program works independently of the program
you use for recording (drivers permitting), you may use any sample-
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
Latest version 1.80 12th July 2012 Bug fix in device names
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
With 0.1dB resolution readout, Ideal for accurate steady state measurements, but also has PPM ballistics. See the ME/12 for more details of this.
The hold button causes the digital readout to follow the peak markers as in the picture above. In conjunction with the peak hold feature this enables transient peaks to be read accurately.
Zero is referenced to Full Scale Digital, athough this can be modified with the calibration adjustment to provide some headroom as required.
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
In response to several requests for an analogue-
Not quite as smooth as the real thing, but it does approximately conforms to the spec which states that for a 5kHz tone burst the meter will read as follows:
- 100 ms 0 ± 0.5dB
- 10 ms -
2.5 ± 0.5dB - 5 ms -
4.0 ± 0.75dB - 1.5 ms -
9. ± 1.0 dB
Fallback time: 2.5 -
To operate the Post Office lever key switch click on the graphic or labels right, centre or left. If you don't want to show the switch the window can be closed down to
obscure the switch but you can still double-
There is also an 'Over' Led which can be set to a level of the users choice. This operates in the digital domain so is not subject to the needle ballistics and may indicate very short transients.
Some comments from users:
" ...I've compared your PPMs to hardware ones, and they're so close as to be considered
identical." -
" -
"Congratulations on your level meters, they really are stunning and as an ex BBC
local radio presenter / tech op very nostalgic." -
"Let me tell you the ppm1.42 and the others from you is my favorite vu meter for
a long time. It looks like very fine and working very good without crashes on every
system!" -
"I'm just trying out your 'Analogue' PPMs, and am really impressed!" -
"I used your PPM to set levels on playbacks into the last series of Doctor Who. If
you saw the 'Weakest Link' and 'What not to wear' sequences then that was your software
plus a great play-
"Everyone I show your meters to absolutely loves them!" -
“Viewing it alongside both REAL Sifam meters, RTW Vectorscope & a Chromatec display
I must say it looks perfect.” -
"THANK YOU for this excellent creation. You changed my life." -
"On a whole, the performance for the Darkwood level meters is very impressive!" -
"Your meters are great. Is there a version for the MAC?" -
Latest version 1.56 2nd Jan 2010
Read an article about the BBC PPM by BBC Radio Resources. You might recognise some of the pictures!
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
The large PPM is approximately life size. As this is may be a bit large here is a
smaller version. Click the push button to switch to M/S mode. There is no 20db boost
button. If you don't want to switch to mono/stereo mode the window can be closed
down to obscure the switch. As usual, right click to access the options. When the
switch is obscured you can still change modes by double-
There is no title bar on this version. You can move it by dragging anywhere on the window. To exit use the taskbar menu.
Latest version 1.42 2nd Jan 2010
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
.Seperate meters reading left & right.There is no title bar on this version. You
can move it by dragging anywhere on the window, and to exit use the taskbar menu.
Double-
Resizeable. From the settings screen (right-
Latest version 1.51 2nd Jan 2010
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
Features:
Fallback ballistics are accurately modelled but the attack time (eg the BBC spec of 2.5dB down for a 10ms burst) is not. Peaks as short as 1ms register accurately. The fallback time from 1 to 7 is now in line with BBC specifications, 2.5 to 3 seconds. You may prefer a faster fallback, especially as there are the peak markers, so the fallback time can be adjusted by means of an arbitrary value entered on the options page. A value of 2 corresponds to the BBC PPM spec. Values up to 10 speed up the decay.
Mono matrix can be set to M = (A+B) -
The peak markers can be set to hold the peak. Click on the window to reset.
There is also a 20dB button. This increases the gain of of the Stereo difference indication by 20dB (10 times). M, L & R are not affected.
The colour of each bar can be set to any colour from the options screen. By default all bars are green but it possible to have, for example, red and green for A and B.
Clicking on the small button bottom-
Tick the 'Lock Settings' box and enter a password which will allow un-
The 'Over' indication can be set to any level. Beware of trying to come to close to full scale digital. Some soundcards have limiters and may not reach 0dB.
Displays A, B, M and S simultaneously.
The 'Over' Led can be set to a level of the users choice. This operates in the digital domain so is not subject to the needle ballistics and may indicate very short transients.
Resizeable. From the settings screen (right-
Latest version 1.22 2nd Jan 2010
If you need to run multiple meters monitoring more than one source there is a Multi-
Use of this program is free and unrestricted. However, if you find my program useful please consider making a small contribution via PayPal.
Windows 7 -
A number of users have found when updating to Windows 7 that they can no longer monitor their sound output by selecting “what you hear” as an input to the level meter. Basically, the feature has been disabled in Windows 7. The settings given on this forum have worked for some. It may not always work, it would depend on your sound driver, but worth a look.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20595-
© Paul Marshall 2011
By special request I have created a version of the BBC PPM that can be used by a person who is blind.
It will speak numbers 1 to 7 via the wave out channel, with an alarm sound for clipping.
It repeats at a rate you can fix (right-
Alternatively there is what I call delta mode where the meter speaks only when the
number changes, at a maximum rate of 0.4 secs..The speech can be toggled on & off
by double-
The visually impaired user may need assistance from a sighted person to set this up. I will be interested to hear any ideas to make this program easier to use.
Use of this program is free and unrestricted.
NEW!
“I would like to say a MEGA thank you for all the hard work you have put into developing
tools such as the VU Meters on your website” -