Operation
Working with meters
PSP MasterComp and PSP MicroComp meters are designed to work similarly to real VU and
PPM meters and overs indicators. To ensure that they can be a useful tool in every situation
we endowed them with a set of parameters which allow you to adjust the meters' behavior to
every practical situation. To learn more about those adjustable parameters please refer to the
Controls -> Rear Panel section of this manual.
Standard VU meters are specified to work with a 300ms integration time - every other
integration time setting results in a response that is not compatible with standard VU time
response, however this also allows you to adjust the meters to your particular needs. As the
VU meter shows a kind of average level, it has to be calibrated to be useful for real
applications. In normal situation the VU meter shows -14dB value relative to peak value.
That is why mastering and post-production engineers decided to use it as reference level for
music. The current practice of setting levels as hot as possible is why average levels are
much closer to peak values. Because of this we decided to offers users such a wide reference
level adjustment range.
PPM meters are a kind of peak meters. They show the level value very close to digital peak
values. Typically they have 10ms or 5ms attack and about 1000-2000ms release times. In
many cases they are more practical then digital peak meters. You can achieve perfect digital
peak metering by setting attack to 0ms.
Rear Panel operation
PSP MasterComp's and PSP MicroComp Rear Panel consist of the plug-in information box
and meters’ preferences parameters. The Information box shows the plug-in's version as well
as the authorization details.
Meters’ preference parameters are not related to the sound processing. They set the way
meters and knobs operate.
Using meters’ preferences parameters
The meters’ preferences parameters allow you to adjust the meters' behavior to your needs.
These are: VU integration time, 0VU reference level, PPM integration time, PPM return time
and Overload counter. These settings are automatically stored in the Windows Registry or in
the Preferences folder in MacOS X every time this plug-in is closed. Those parameters are
not accessible through your audio application’s automation fuction. Whenever you start a
new instance of the plug-in or start a project with PSP MasterComp or PSP MicroComp used,
all preference parameters are recovered from these saved settings regardless of the project or
even the host application that is used.
PSP MasterComp & PSP MicroComp operation manual
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