Now, THAT'S INTERESTING... I just discovered, by chance, that having MB volume set to "use logarithmic volume scaling" has a major effect on VUMeter plugin readings.
At normal use of the MB volume control range, with logarithmic volume enabled as has been my usual, I was seeing VU meter readings with peaks around -5, sort of odd says I especially with a compressor/limiter VST active with 0db as its target. Just by chance I lowered the MB slider to a 1% position in response to some sudden loud music and noticed that the VU meter began showing -1 to +1db peaks. Increasing the slider past 1% to my normal position and the VU meter reading immediately dropped back to what I had thought was normal.
I then disabled logarithmic volume scaling, and found that now regardless of the volume slider setting the VU meter would now show approx. 0db peaks, except when the music itself was a low enough level so as not to be affected by the -7db threshold level I have set on my compressor/limiter (LoudMax), such as with classical music.
Another effect of disabling logarithmic volume was that using the "Linear" option on VUMeter produced a MUCH more active meter movement than before, albeit peaking at lower levels than having it off.
This testing was done with VUMeter 1.5, analog AL-65 and Grundig (from AIMP) meter skins, and Sample interval/samples at 15/3. MusicBee using the Wasapi Exclusive output as always.
Conclusion: the enabling of logarithmic volume scaling has an obvious "unrealistic" lowering effect on VUMeter readings except at the lowest volume setting, while disabling it produces expected peak meter levels and more active movement in general. Man you learn something new every day. I did have to reduce my external speakers' volume control to give me more "range" with the slider to avoid blasting myself, haha.. Anyway, THAT'S BETTER!
