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Chapter 8 Metering tools 15 4
Surround MultiMeter Analyzer parameters
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Analyzer button: Switches the main display to Analyzer mode.
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Sum and Max buttons: Click to show the summed or maximum level in the Analyzer results in
the main display. These buttons are relevant only when multiple channels are selected with
the channel buttons.
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Channel buttons: Click to select one or multiple channels for metering. The number and
appearance of these buttons vary when dierent surround output congurations are chosen.
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View elds: Alter the way that values are shown in the Analyzer by setting the maximum level
displayed (Top) and the overall dynamic range (Range).
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Mode buttons: Click to determine how levels are displayed. You can choose from Peak, Slow
RMS, or Fast RMS characteristics.
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The two RMS modes show the eective signal average and provide a representative
overview of perceived volume levels.
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The Peak mode shows level peaks accurately.
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Scale (shown in the main display): Indicates the scale of levels. Drag the scale vertically to adjust.
Changing the scale is useful when you are analyzing highly compressed material because it
makes it easier to identify small level dierences.
Surround MultiMeter Goniometer mode
A goniometer helps you to judge the coherence of the stereo image and determine phase
dierences between the left and right channels. Phase problems are easily spotted as trace
cancelations along the center line (M—mid/mono).
The idea of the goniometer was born with the advent of early two-channel oscilloscopes. To use
such devices as goniometers, users would connect the left and the right stereo channels to the
X and Y inputs, while rotating the display by 45° to produce a useful visualization of the signal’s
stereo phase. The signal trace slowly fades to black, imitating the retro glow of the tubes found
in older goniometers, while also enhancing the readability of the display.
Because the Surround MultiMeter Goniometer is dealing with multichannel signals, the
display is divided into multiple segments, as shown in the image. Each segment indicates a
speaker position. When the surround panner is moved in a channel strip, the indicator changes
accordingly. This indicates not only left and right channel coherence, but also the front-
to-rear coherence.