Level Meter Advice (but NOT SPL Meter)

[len-morgan]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question but here goes:

I'm looking for a meter that I can plug into say the "Direct Out" jack of a mixing board, or the output of an A/D/A converter to measure the level of the signal. For example, my mixing board says that the output level is -10dBu but is switchable (with great difficulty) to +4dBv (I think it's "v"). If I understand the specs correctly, when my LED vU meter is indicating 0, the output should be -10dBu (as currently configured). On my Delta 1010, if I have the buttons on the back set for -10dBu level, when I am putting that level in, I should see 0 dB on the control panel for the Delta Mixer.

Alternatively, is there a way to use a multimeter on the A/C setting and convert this to dB? I don't mind doing the math but I know that the impedance of the meter and whether I have anything plugged into the jack along with the meter all effect the measurement.

Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to try and calibrate my mixer so that 0 dB on the meters means something concrete instead of relative.

Thanks,

len

[Tonio]

Hi Len,
I would matter on the mixer's direct out. But for some light reading:
http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles8.htm

Dorrough makes some nice meters:http://www.dorrough.com/dorrough/produc ... eters.html

Otherwise you could use a sine wave for DAW output to check the structure between DAW levels and mixer levels for DA, then run that back to the DAw or AD structure. Good way to check your monitor levels(w/ rat shack meter too!!


T