[haiku-bugs] [Haiku] #9478: Audio mixer: showing dB, setting unity gain, output level

From: "ASoftwareHatingFurry" <trac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:51:16 -0000
#9478: Audio mixer: showing dB, setting unity gain, output level
-------------------------------------------------+-------------------------
 Reporter:  ASoftwareHatingFurry                 |        Owner:  nobody
     Type:  enhancement                          |       Status:  new
 Priority:  low                                  |    Milestone:  R1
Component:  Audio & Video                        |      Version:
 Keywords:  mixer media kit level levels show    |  R1/alpha4.1
  dB fader faders marking markings display       |   Blocked By:
  popup tooltip unity gain 0dB meter meters      |  Has a Patch:  0
  metering clip clipped clipping peak rms vu     |
  volume                                         |
 Blocking:                                       |
 Platform:  All                                  |
-------------------------------------------------+-------------------------
 There doesn't seem to be a good way of seeing what dB level each fader is
 set to in the audio mixer. When dragging a fader (which risks moving it
 unintentionally) it shows a number in a popup below the fader, but this
 number has extra digits at the end, and no "dB" on the end. It is also cut
 off width-wise and sits immediately below the fader, where it is mostly
 covered by the mouse pointer.

 Would it be possible to put an indicator of the current setting at the
 bottom, below where it says "To output", "To master" etc.? Or
 alternatively use a tooltip that pops up when you mouse over the fader
 knob, but does not require clicking the fader.

 Graticule markings like on a real mixer next to each fader would help too,
 but there needs to be some way of seeing the exact level.

 It is also quite difficult to set unity gain (0dB) - something like
 double-clicking, shift/option/cmd+clicking would work. I prefer the
 latter, a double-click seems like it might be quite dangerous. The level
 could suddenly jump up if you've got a finnicky mouse or touchpad.
 Furthermore, using yet another key could "gear it down" to give finer
 adjustment possibility.
 Some other systems use a "centre-detent." Please don't do that, they're
 awful! They're particularly bad if you're actually trying to mix audio.


 Finally, some way of metering the overall output level would be useful.
 Even a crude inaccurate "clip" indicator that illuminates when a sample
 codeword exceeding +/-1 has been detected in the last second would be
 useful. I realise this might be harder due to the split GUI / backend
 nature of the mixer, so consider this aspect lower priority.
 However I believe even for consumer audio a clip indicator would be
 useful. People need to be trained in setting levels properly. I swear, if
 I hear one more Youtube video that's slamming into hard clipping...

 If a full meter is going to be implemented, I'm able to help by writing
 the DSP code. True peak (reconstruction filtered) and VU-characteristic
 RMS or average can be converted into number of pixels tall to fill the
 meter. I have no clue architecturally how to get the peak data from the
 mixer back end to the GUI however.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://dev.haiku-os.org/ticket/9478>
Haiku <http://dev.haiku-os.org>
Haiku - the operating system.
[haiku-bugs] [Haiku] #9478: Audio mixer: showing dB, setting unity gain, output level

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