The XH A1 audio meter. What does it measure? VU? Peak? VU/Peak? at DVinfo.net

John Whiteway · May 7th, 2008, 10:02 AM

Hello,

Does someone know what the audio meter on the Canon XH A1 is measuring? Is it VU, peak or a combination? The manual has nothing to say on this matter.

John

John Whiteway · May 7th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Help me guys! I posted this question on the XH-A1 forum but nothing. My faith is now in the hands of audio guys!

Allan Black · May 7th, 2008, 07:37 PM

All the cams I've had do the manufacturers idea of VU, the concept being Peak is too hard to set and leave for the shot, for the gun and run brigade.

And cost comes into it, a few cents more for a better meter means big bucks over the life of the production runs. The better the cam (cost wise) the better the audio meter circuit.

A PPM on a cam will dull the average user into recording a basic lower level leading to tape noise when he/she tries to raise the audio level in post. It can be a trap if you've got VU switchable to Peak on a rig. You only forget to check it once.

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/us_pro_ea_vu

Cheers.

PS Cross posting is not allowed mate. :/

John Whiteway · May 7th, 2008, 08:55 PM

I ask because it appears the XH A1 is measuring peak. When I send it signal from a Sound Devices 302 the camera reading corresponds to peak display on the mixer. This comes as a surprise to me because I'd always, for some reason, assumed that the camera was giving a VU reading. Experimented with my XL1 as well and I get the same results.

John Whiteway · May 8th, 2008, 02:37 PM

Answer to my question. Canon have just got in touch with me and they say that the meter is measuring VU.

Steve House · May 8th, 2008, 04:03 PM

Well. I wouldn't want to dispute the manufacturer but that's really odd. VU meters usually have their zero point arounf mid to 2/3 of the way up and are marked -dB below that and +dB above. The illustrations in the camera manual show a normal digital meter where zero is full scale and the graduations are in -dB below full scale.

Ty Ford · May 8th, 2008, 07:18 PM

I'm with Steve. My XL2 meters show peak.

Well, peak for real audio and RMS when I feed tone.

Regards,

Ty Ford

May 7th, 2008, 10:02 AM	#1
John Whiteway Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada Posts: 75	The XH A1 audio meter. What does it measure? VU? Peak? VU/Peak? Hello, Does someone know what the audio meter on the Canon XH A1 is measuring? Is it VU, peak or a combination? The manual has nothing to say on this matter. John

May 7th, 2008, 07:37 PM	#3
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,928	All the cams I've had do the manufacturers idea of VU, the concept being Peak is too hard to set and leave for the shot, for the gun and run brigade. And cost comes into it, a few cents more for a better meter means big bucks over the life of the production runs. The better the cam (cost wise) the better the audio meter circuit. A PPM on a cam will dull the average user into recording a basic lower level leading to tape noise when he/she tries to raise the audio level in post. It can be a trap if you've got VU switchable to Peak on a rig. You only forget to check it once. http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/us_pro_ea_vu Cheers. PS Cross posting is not allowed mate. :/ Last edited by Allan Black; May 7th, 2008 at 10:11 PM.

May 8th, 2008, 04:03 PM	#6
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Well. I wouldn't want to dispute the manufacturer but that's really odd. VU meters usually have their zero point arounf mid to 2/3 of the way up and are marked -dB below that and +dB above. The illustrations in the camera manual show a normal digital meter where zero is full scale and the graduations are in -dB below full scale. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

May 8th, 2008, 07:18 PM	#7
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	I'm with Steve. My XL2 meters show peak. Well, peak for real audio and RMS when I feed tone. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

May 7th, 2008, 05:45 PM	#2
John Whiteway Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada Posts: 75	Help me guys! I posted this question on the XH-A1 forum but nothing. My faith is now in the hands of audio guys!

May 7th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#4
John Whiteway Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada Posts: 75	I ask because it appears the XH A1 is measuring peak. When I send it signal from a Sound Devices 302 the camera reading corresponds to peak display on the mixer. This comes as a surprise to me because I'd always, for some reason, assumed that the camera was giving a VU reading. Experimented with my XL1 as well and I get the same results.

May 8th, 2008, 02:37 PM	#5
John Whiteway Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada Posts: 75	Answer to my question. Canon have just got in touch with me and they say that the meter is measuring VU.