avasopht wrote: ↑22 Sep 2023
Troublemecca wrote: ↑21 Sep 2023
Eh… is that normal? Can one turn that off?
Expand the Hardware Interface, and with the Big Knob, change VU offset. The default template has it set at -12dB (not the -6dB I mentioned). You can save that project and set it as the new project template in preferences/general.
I keep it at -12dB, as I find it much more useful. It corresponds more with the levels on real mixers.
I usually put an MClass Maximizer before the Hardware Interface to monitor the final peak dBFS levels. I sometimes even wrap it up into a combinator with a button to switch between the two.
That's just how I do it, I guess. I used Reason before it had the SSL mixer. I found that when I was outputting Reason via optical to a mixer, the mixer's peak levels were offset by about -18dBFS (many audio interfaces are offset by -12dBFS).
That is why Reason's default project template has a -12DBFS offset (so that your SSL level readings bear a closer resemblance to them), but I guess it's not so useful when you are not using the SSL mixer to mix
VU offset has zero effect on peak levels, they are exactly the same as every audio system.
I have also output Reason via optical, and the levels read the same in both my Zoom L20 and my Midas M32r mixers. Every digital audio system has exactly the same peak level = 0 dBFS. Reason makes zero adjustments to the output level from their mixer, 0 dBFS on Reason’s mixer equal exactly 0 dBFS on any other digital mixer.
Note that the Reason “offset” you speak of ONLY affects the VU meters (not peak meters, and NOT levels in any way), and when setting digital levels every recorder I’ve seen from the 3M 32 track digital recorders I worked on in the 1980s to every digital tape recorder and audio interface I’ve used since then uses peak metering because thats the only way you know how much headroom you have. You can ignore the VU meters in Reason and work just fine in my experience.
No audio interface has an offset, what you may be thinking of is the VU alignment level (not peak) for calibrating ANALOG levels, which would not be in affect for optical signals. This ensure that when you use analog gear with digital gear you can ensure a similar level. Which is to say, a digital system clips at 0 dBFS while an analog system clips somewhere between 18-24 dB above 0 dBVU.
There is a difference between VU levels and peak levels, sometimes as much as +20 dB for signals like kick and snare. Meaning, if you set your kick VU to 0 dBVU, the peak level can be 20 dB or more HIGHER than the VU (average) level. On a tape machine this can produce sweet saturation on the transients, which can be desired. But on a digital system this can result in hard clipping. So peak levels are used for digital systems and VU for analog, with the most common chosen calibration point for most audio interfaces these days being 0 dBVU = -18 dBFS. All this means is if I have an analog console with a tone generator and VU meters, and set the test tone to read 0 dBVU on the console, it should hit -18 dBFS on the digital meters. It should also be mentioned that when using VU meters you would not likely hit 0 dBVU on every signal, especially anything with transients. In fact, when recording instruments like tambourine you will see the VU meters down around -20 dBVU which is barely moving (and still it can sometimes saturate and get crunchy quickly).
Sorry for the long rant, lots to cover and plenty of room for mistakes on my part (and I’m trying to remember experiences from decades ago), so please correct me if I’m wrong here!
avasopht wrote: ↑21 Sep 2023
Doesn't Reason default to displaying peak levels with a -6dB offset?
Reason most certainly outputs the same levels as Logic (so I've never had this problem), but if you're measuring it based on peak levels that are offset, you'll always be setting it to a lower level than you think.
Reason displays peak levels accurately, peak levels are never “offset” anywhere in Reason (or any mixer/DAW I’m aware of). Reason and Logic mixes will null with the same audio files loaded into both, so there is absolutely zero difference between how they handle levels (same for other DAWs as far as I have experienced). Their meters show the same level on the same audio files imported into either.
0 dBFS is the same on every DAW!
Check out this comparison of summing or playing audio in Reason compared to Logic. Spoiler - they are exactly the same.