Calibrating Input Level for Plugins

[MirrorProfiles]

There are two values
Neural DSP =12.2dBu
'1 Vp = 0.707 VRMS = -0.79 dBu equals -13 dBFS in the digital
they are same thing?

Yep. Same thing expressed in different ways

 

[volkan]

Yep. Same thing expressed in different ways

We want to see 0.707 VMRS on voltmeter
if so what will be remain the input gain on the plugin interface
We will do adjustment just for the voltmeter nothing will be change for the plugin input gain value?

 

[AlbertA]

Just don't forget, the mapping of that dBu reading to digital dBFS value is FOR THAT SPECIFIC audio interface - it's not universal.

 

[volkan]

so the value " wet" in tone generator will be adjusted to the plugin manufacturer input specs (for neural dsp plugins it's 12.2)
so we will set the value -12.2 on tone generator
as the sine wave going we want to see the 0dBu on multimeter 0.7746V
is that right ?
@MirrorProfiles
@bikescene

this procedure is right ?

@2dor​

​

@James Freeman​

did i misunderstood the things ?

@AlbertA is this the right way i understood

 

[bikescene]

There are two values
Neural DSP =12.2dBu
'1 Vp = 0.707 VRMS = -0.79 dBu equals -13 dBFS in the digital
they are same thing?

Hey, just saw your question a few posts up.

Setting the Tone Generator at -12.2dB and measuring 0.7746V should work for your case.

If you leave your output trim untouched after making the adjustment and then set the tone generator at -13dB, the measured voltage will drop down to 0.707V.

I suggested measuring 0.775 or 0.7746 because you can directly relate the dBu value to the Tone Generator output setting.

 

[volkan]

Hey, just saw your question a few posts up.

Setting the Tone Generator at -12.2dB and measuring 0.7746V should work for your case.

If you leave your output trim untouched after making the adjustment and then set the tone generator at -13dB, the measured voltage will drop down to 0.707V.

I suggested measuring 0.775 or 0.7746 because you can directly relate the dBu value to the Tone Generator output setting.

is this not universal ? as @AlbertA said

 

[volkan]

Just don't forget, the mapping of that dBu reading to digital dBFS value is FOR THAT SPECIFIC audio interface - it's not universal.

You are talking about the converters i think, the values on the multimeter should remain the exact values, right?

 

[AlbertA]

You are talking about the converters i think, the values on the multimeter should remain the exact values, right?

Yeah I'm talking specifically about relating the voltage readings which can be expressed in Vrms or dBu or dBV units (and many others) to dBFS which is a unit that we use to express amplitude levels relative to Full scale in digital systems.

That relation will depend on the choice of converters and how those converters are driven by the audio interface circuitry, hence not universal.

 

[volkan]

Hey, just saw your question a few posts up.

Setting the Tone Generator at -12.2dB and measuring 0.7746V should work for your case.

If you leave your output trim untouched after making the adjustment and then set the tone generator at -13dB, the measured voltage will drop down to 0.707V.

I suggested measuring 0.775 or 0.7746 because you can directly relate the dBu value to the Tone Generator output setting.

i understood that this is the way without adjusting any input gain on the plugin
it will be staying at 0 just because now we play same as the manufacturer specs by doing this?

 

[volkan]

@[Nathan]
Could you explain why you are choosing 0.5 on the multimeter
as we talked that it should be 0,7746 as @AlbertA said

 

[2dor]

@[Nathan]
Could you explain why you are choosing 0.5 on the multimeter
as we talked that it should be 0,7746 as @AlbertA said

At 1:55 - that's the spreadsheet @MirrorProfiles built some time ago - you don't have to use 0.5 or 0.7746; you can go for any value you want as long as you know how to do the math & measurement.

 

[[Nathan]]

@[Nathan]
Could you explain why you are choosing 0.5 on the multimeter
as we talked that it should be 0,7746 as @AlbertA said

You’re asking questions that have already been answered multiple times. I laid those videos out in an easy to follow way so I’m at a bit of a loss how to explain things further or any better.

At the beginning of the video I’m using this spreadsheet here. I’ve just typed in 0.5, have a look at column F it says “you can use anything”.

Just use 0.7746 there and the spreadsheets values will update with everything else you need.

 

[bikescene]

i understood that this is the way without adjusting any input gain on the plugin
it will be staying at 0 just because now we play same as the manufacturer specs by doing this?

Yes. You can match the manufacturer specs this way.

You know your dBu value at that point, and can compensate gain for another amp sim plugin without touching your interface’s gain knob.

 

[volkan]

Yes. You can match the manufacturer specs this way.

You know your dBu value at that point, and can compensate gain for another amp sim plugin without touching your interface’s gain knob.

thank you very much

 

[volkan]

You’re asking questions that have already been answered multiple times. I laid those videos out in an easy to follow way so I’m at a bit of a loss how to explain things further or any better.

At the beginning of the video I’m using this spreadsheet here. I’ve just typed in 0.5, have a look at column F it says “you can use anything”.

Just use 0.7746 there and the spreadsheets values will update with everything else you need.

View attachment 58526

great explanation thank you

 

[volkan]

i finally got a voltmeter
i am trying to measure something
here my settings when sine wave -12db route to the amp out and measuring with voltmeter
nothing changes even i turn the knobs still remains 0.05
what is going here please explain

 

[2dor]

i finally got a voltmeter
i am trying to measure something
here my settings when sine wave -12db route to the amp out and measuring with voltmeter
nothing changes even i turn the knobs still remains 0.05
what is going here please explain

View attachment 58610
View attachment 58609

Your interface's "Amp Out" probably has a fixed level or there's some other place from where you need to change the volume.

But, if you're getting a voltage reading from that output then you're good - just plug a cable between the "Amp Out" and into the "instrument input" with that sine running. Write down the dBFS reading you're seeing on the Instrument input and you can leverage @MirrorProfiles utility sheet to determine your instrument input's max input gain.

 

[volkan]

Your interface's "Amp Out" probably has a fixed level or there's some other place from where you need to change the volume.

But, if you're getting a voltage reading from that output then you're good - just plug a cable between the "Amp Out" and into the "instrument input" with that sine running. Write down the dBFS reading you're seeing on the Instrument input and you can leverage @MirrorProfiles utility sheet to determine your instrument input's max input gain.

when the tone generator at 0
i read from amp output is 0,213V is equal to 11.2 dbu
plug a cable between the "Amp Out" and into the "instrument input" (ton generator at 0)
i have already got 11.2 dbu
neural dsp 12.2+11.2=23.4
until reach -23.4 dbu level i will set the gain knob right?

 

[2dor]

when the tone generator at 0
i read from amp output is 0,213V is equal to 11.2 dbu
plug a cable between the "Amp Out" and into the "instrument input" (ton generator at 0)
i have already got 11.2 dbu
neural dsp 12.2+11.2=23.4
until reach -23.4 dbu level i will set the gain knob right?

Remove any plugins from the tracks - just write down the dBFS you see on the Instrument Input until you're done with the math.

If your instrument input has a max. input gain of 11.2 dBu, you should see 0 dBFS in the DAW (aka borderline clipping).

Something's not right with that voltage you're reading.. 11.2 dBU :

https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/calculators

 

[volkan]

11.2 dBu is
when i plug guitar di/instrument input and getting the dry signal from amp out
thats what i read 0,213V on voltmeter and thats fixed never changes even playing with the knob