DP9.1 Meters to Audio & Aux Tracks Not Reflecting Panning

[zuul-studios]

Hello -

This is regarding the DP 9.1 upgrade (and possibly earlier DP 9 versions?). (Please note my system set-up in signature line.)

I am discovering that, when using VIs, the meters to either the Stereo Audio Tracks or the Aux Tracks are not reflecting the change in panning, using DP9's own panner. The sound changes as intended, but the meters remain the same. On the other hand, if I pan an instrument via the VI plug-in, the meters do seem to accurately reflect the panning. Again, if I pan an instrument hard left or hard right using DP9s panner, the stereo meters remain unchanged.

I have DP 9 loaded on both my Mac Pro and MacMini. (I actually own two separate upgrades of DP 9.) This issue that I mention happens on both computers. This issue also happens regardless of what virtual instrument I set-up.

I still have DP8 (latest version) still loaded on my Mac Pro. For this version, the meters do reflect changes in panning using DP8's panner.

Am I configuring something wrong? If so, what should I configure in DP9 that will enable the meters to accurately reflect panning changes using DP9's own panner, when using VIs? Might this be a bug?

Thank you for your time and thoughtful feedback.

Ted

[cuttime]

Yes, I'm seeing this very behavior with all tracks except for the Master out on the Meter Bridge. I was just trying to track down another problem with the fader meters (no metering at all!), and now you mention this. The lack of metering was fixed, BTW, by rebooting my machine. I'm still on 9.1, but I don't see this behavior with 8. I'm not sure if I want to roll back to 9.02 yet, but that may be coming. Another trip to Techlinks, but damn, I just don't want to overwhelm them right now. Can someone else confirm this with 9.02?

[Robert Randolph]

Wasn't the meter position changed explicitly in 9.1?

edit: yep.

• Track level meters now display the track's level post-fader and pre-pan.

Not a bug, just a weird design decision. edit: I say weird because it seems odd to change at this point, even though it's relatively standard behaviour.

[cuttime]

You are right Robert, from the Read Me:

Track level meters now display the track's level post-fader and pre-pan.

Trying to figure out a way to change to post fader using the microscopic insert dot.

[zuul-studios]

Yep. It's there in the "Read Me", and it's the first new feature on the list. (I am embarrassed to admit that I did not read the "Read Me". And, rarely do I read the manual. )

I am not understanding why this might be beneficial. Why is this beneficial?

Where, in DP9.1, might one be able to configure the track level to reflect post-panner changes?

[Phil O]

I am not understanding why this might be beneficial. Why is this beneficial?

Ya know, when I first saw this as a "new feature" I thought exactly the same thing. I cannot answer that question. If anyone has a good answer, please chime in.

Where, in DP9.1, might one be able to configure the track level to reflect post-panner changes?

There was a reference somewhere on MOTU's web site to this being an option, but as far as I can tell it is unchangeable in 9.1. I'm guessing that the plan was to make it an option, but it never made it into the first release. (just speculation for sure) So for now we're stuck with it.

Phil

[zuul-studios]

First - Thank you all for the thoughtful and confirming comments. I could not find where one would configure the audio & aux tracks to show post-panning levels. Gratefully, pretty much everything else works as needed for my modest composition/sequencing projects.

Ted

[reedster]

is Meter Bridge of any help ?

[cuttime]

is Meter Bridge of any help ?

Meter Bridge shows the same. For the life of me, I don't understand this "feature".

[reedster]

Bussing a track into an Aux or inserting a Trim plug-in post fader allows you to see the panning - in the plug-in or the Aux

I'm not sold on this feature either.

[Shooshie]

I like the new behavior. To me, the meters became useless once I started panning, because I could no longer gauge what was happening in the tracks relative to each other, and I couldn't tell what the ratio between them was supposed to be, relative to the panner.

The "new" approach puts the meters before the panner, so the stereo meters remain true to each other. The next stage of the mixdown — a submaster or master or stem track — reflects the panning. Now, the Master Track seems to serve some function other than just another channel strip before final output.

I know it may feel odd to those who've been using DP forever, as I have, but it also feels more like a real mixing board.

Shoosh

[bayswater]

I like the new behavior. To me, the meters became useless once I started panning, because I could no longer gauge what was happening in the tracks relative to each other, and I couldn't tell what the ratio between them was supposed to be, relative to the panner.

The "new" approach puts the meters before the panner, so the stereo meters remain true to each other. The next stage of the mixdown — a submaster or master or stem track — reflects the panning. Now, the Master Track seems to serve some function other than just another channel strip before final output.

I know it may feel odd to those who've been using DP forever, as I have, but it also feels more like a real mixing board.

Shoosh

I get your point, but I find this new approach odd. For a start, what's the point of showing a stereo meter when the two channels always show the same thing? Technically, I suppose it makes sense to show the difference between left and right in the next stage of the signal flow where the info is most important, but it's really inconvenient to have to extend the path to another stage for tracks that go directly to the main outputs.

I expect there is an update coming. The release notes say the pre-post metering is an option, so maybe 9.1.1 will implement a preference or setting where we can change this.

[Shooshie]

Yeah, ideally we should be able to switch either way.

[mwilloam]

Just noticed this and just thought it was a bug. I'd rather track meters show post panned signal. To me give better visual feedback of the mix layout. Ideally should be configurable. Odd...

[beautypill]

Hello. I'm on DP 10.13, but I'm reviving this old thread, I guess.

Is there a fix for this?

I hate the way it works now.

I want the meter to reflect the panning the way it did in earlier in versions of DP.

- c