17
Advanced Operations
Using the modulometer
Description
The PL–L is equipped with a highly
precise multiple purpose Nagra
modulometer. It has two coaxial
pointers, the black representing the
Left Channel and the red representing
the Right Channel. The face of the
instrument is graduated with 3 scales
and can be illuminated by two internal
LEDs.
The modulometer is a precision
instrument with very special pointer
ballistics. A modulometer is different
from a VU or a PPM meter. They
share a common purpose of
indication, and a brief description of
each follows:
o
Modulometer
The modulometer measures the peak
value of the signal, irrespective of the
form or the level, and takes into
consideration the strongest positive or
negative value. It is equipped with a
memory, so that with very brief
signals, the pointer advances and
stays for a sufficient time in order for a
reading to be taken. The modulometer
measures signals that can affect
systems prone to overloading such as
amplifiers and radio transmitters. It
shows signal peaks that would
saturate – an average value of the
signal is of little value in preventing
system overload. In particular, while
monitoring spikes, indications from
the modulometer are always exact, no
matter how long the duration of the
spike may be.
o
VU Meter
On the contrary versus the
modulometer, the VU meter has the
same rise and fall time. It indicates
the accurate physiological sound level
with a good balance between speech
and music. It is used a lot in sound
post-production houses. It’s not at all
adapted for the PL-L
.
