Signvideo Vu150 User manual

SignVideo VU150 Audio Level Meter User Manual

Made In USA

Install Battery

No battery is supplied with the unit.

Slide open the battery compartment and install a standard nine volt battery by snapping the leads onto the battery terminals.

2. Slide lid back. Press until it snaps shut.

Mount to Camera

1. Insert the metal bracket on the bottom of the audio level meter into the accessory shoe on the top of your camcorder.

2. On some camcorders the accessory shoe will be spring loaded and the metal plate will lock into place. On other camcorders, you

will need to secure the attachment by tightening down the knurled wheel on the metal bracket until the connection is snug.

Hook up Cables

1. Connect the built in Audio Level Meter audio cable to the headphone output jack on your camcorder (you will still be able to use

your headphones).

2. Connect the cable from your headphones to the headphone output jack located on one side of the audio level meter.

Calibrate Meters

Calibration Adjustments

Location

The left and right audio calibration adjustment pots are located one the same side of the audio level meter as the headphone volume

knob. They are recessed and require you to use a small flat blade screwdriver to make the adjustment (this way, once adjusted you

can’t accidentally bump the adjustments).

Set Up

To make the adjustment, play back a video tape in your camcorder. Choose a tape which has fairly continuous, normal level audio.

Adjust the headphone volume level on your camcorder such that there is adequate volume, and such that you have adequate up and

down range of adjustment of headphone volume using only the headphone volume control that is located on the Audio Level Meter.

This is because once you set the camcorder headphone level, it cannot be changed , since it now sets the level feeding into the audio

level meter. Change this level and the meters are no longer accurate (you get to do the calibration all over again). So, once you’ve set

the camcorder headphone volume, don’t change it.

Basic Adjustment

Switch on the meter display using the slide switch which is on the opposite side of the unit from the calibration pots. While playing back

the videotape and listening through the headphones, use the flat blade screwdriver to adjust each calibration pot. Watch the meter to

determine which pot controls which meter display. Then adjust the meters according to the type of camcorder you are using.

Choose from the list below:

Camcorders with built in audio meters

Follow procedure in “Basic Adjustment” above. Make sure the camcorder is in manual audio mode. Adjust the Audio Level Meter

displays so that they mimic the range of the level meters found on your camcorder. You may also wish to read the “no built in meters”

procedure below to get a better idea of what to expect. If you cannot see both meters at the same time, remove the Audio Level Meter

from the camcorder. It does not need to be physically attached to the camcorder accessory shoe to operate.

Camcorders with manual audio but no built in meters

Follow procedure in “Basic Adjustment” above. Calibrate the meter so that the audio peaks generally reach zero and rarely, if ever, go

above zero into the red.

Camcorders with no manual audio controls (offering only automatic gain control)

Use the same procedure as above for “camcorders with manual audio but no built in meters”. You will notice, however, that for the most

part your adjustment makes little difference, since the automatic gain control is continually adjusting the actual audio level to keep it

within normal range. Try to find the middle point of the adjustment. Since your camcorder audio automatic gain control is active, the

Audio Level Meter will largely be useful only for showing the presence of audio on both channels. This is again because the automatic

gain control normally will be adjusting audio to within acceptable levels. Exceptions may occur when the source of audio is so low that

the automatic gain control is unable to boost the gain high enough, or when loud noises occur suddenly and the automatic gain control

lags in correcting the gain. Another exception would occur if your camcorder automatic gain control malfunctions, failing to keep your

audio within acceptable levels. If the audio meter indicates anything other than audio within acceptable range when the AGC (automatic

gain control) is active, you may wish to check playback of your audio track at the earliest opportunity.

For Operation Instructions see reverse 

Operation

Display Modes

Use the slide switch to select dot or bar graph display. Dot mode draws less power and conserves battery.

Display Brightness

Use a small flat blade screwdriver to adjust the recessed display brightness pot. Turn up for visibility outdoors. Turn down for indoor

use and to conserve battery.

Battery Life

Audio Level Meter power consumption is low. Using dot display and normal brightness, battery life should be over 100 hours using long

life 9v batteries.

Headphone Volume

Use the headphone volume knob on the Audio Level Meter to adjust headphone volume. Do not use the headphone volume control on

your camcorder. (See “Set Up” section under “Calibrate Meters” on reverse side).

Judging Audio levels

For best audio recording quality, peak audio levels seen on the display should not exceed zero. Levels above zero may be distorted or

otherwise result in substandard recorded audio. The display LEDs below zero light up green, the ones above zero light up red.

Generally, set your audio recording level so that the "loudest” sounds peak at zero and do not go into the red.

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

Sign video Ltd. warrants this product (including accompanying accessories) and all parts thereof, except as set forth below, for a period of one year

from the original date of purchase. Should the product be found to be defective, Sign Video Ltd. will repair or replace the product at no charge.

To obtain warranty service telephone one of the numbers below or log on www.signvideo.com to obtain the current telephone number for warranty

repair.

The duration of any implied warranties is limited to the duration of the express warranty herein. This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or

damage due to acts of god, accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, negligence, improper installation, tampering, criminal acts, negligence, lack of

reasonable care, or if serviced or repaired by anyone other than Sign video Ltd. or a repair facility authorized by Sign video Ltd.

Sign Video Ltd. shall not be liable for any loss of use, or incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of this product or the failure or

inoperability of this product in any respect, including from any cause whatsoever, or from breach of any express or implied warranty. In no event

shall Sign video Ltd. be liable for any amount in excess of the purchase price paid for the product, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law.