[Danny T]

I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

[Don Pearce]

On 4 Jan 2007 09:34:21 -0800, "Danny T"
wrote:


I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

It would really be changing too fast to follow. And it would also
depress you to see how few watts (ok, milliwatts most of the time) you
are actually producing when you are listening, even quite loudly.

There are such meters of course, and they have a pretty specific use -
that of measuring the power in sine waves during design and
development - they have no applications that I can recall in
monitoring music, where needles and bars are vastly more useful.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

[hank alrich]

Danny T wrote:

I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

Watts is power. What would that mean in the context of a meter bridge?

(I'm easily confused.)

--
ha

[GregS]

In article , (Don Pearce) wrote:
On 4 Jan 2007 09:34:21 -0800, "Danny T"
wrote:


I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

It would really be changing too fast to follow. And it would also
depress you to see how few watts (ok, milliwatts most of the time) you
are actually producing when you are listening, even quite loudly.

Another thing. watts is watts, but is a poor representation of volume.
Analog is a perfect visual medium. I have wondered how young people would view
things, if they never saw a round clock dial, and just a digital readout.
Most things are circular in the universe, including time.

greg

[Chris Whealy]

Danny T wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles but it would be much cooler to see a number.
It may appear "cool" (whatever that is), but back in reality, its much
easier for your eyes to follow the movement of needle or a fluctuating
row of LED's than to try and comprehend a bank of fluctuating numbers.
Also, if there are any quick peaks or spikes in the level, a needle will
represent this event far more more tangibly than a digital display.
Is there such a thing and if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

Well, if this were a genuine improvement over needle or LED meters,
don't you think it would have been thought of by now, and don't you
think it would already be available as a standard feature on meter bridges?

Its the old principle that "a picture speaks a thousand words". An
analogue representation of a quantity can be appreciated far more
readily than its numerical representation. After all, what would you
rather look at - a table of numbers, or the same data represented as a
graph?

Methinks you'd get frustrated pretty quickly with all the rapidly
changing numbers.

Chris W

--
The voice of ignorance speaks loud and long,
But the words of the wise are quiet and few.
---

[Roy W. Rising]

"Danny T" wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

Just what would be your purpose in metering output wattage? Would you be
watching your monitor amps' outputs? Have you spent any time watching the
whirling disc in a KWH meter? For me, it's as much fun as watching paint
dry. ;-p

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[Andy Eng]

Danny T wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

A digital sound meter? Got one... It's a bit sluggish but works.

[jakdedert]

Danny T wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)


Because it would be useless in a technical or practical sense. Without
damping down the action to a meaningless level, it would change too fast
to read the numbers. Any real-time readout in digits would just be a
blur...all segments lit at the same time.

You could get the same effect by simply lighting all the segments of a
numeric display at once--two or three "8's" with a label that said
'watts'--no need for any real circuitry.

This is a case where--as a real tool--an analog readout, or at least a
digital representation of one, is most useful. Even those must be
slowed down in a controlled manner to be readable.

jak

[Scott Dorsey]

In article .com,
Danny T wrote:

I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

The problem is that it's totally useless because the display changes
so quickly. Unless you want to average power over a few seconds and
have a very low update rate. A moving needle (or LED array) is much
more useful.

Vellemann sells some kits for bargraph power meters for power amps.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Danny T]

GregS wrote:
In article , (Don Pearce) wrote:
On 4 Jan 2007 09:34:21 -0800, "Danny T"
wrote:


I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

It would really be changing too fast to follow. And it would also
depress you to see how few watts (ok, milliwatts most of the time) you
are actually producing when you are listening, even quite loudly.

Another thing. watts is watts, but is a poor representation of volume.
Analog is a perfect visual medium. I have wondered how young people would view
things, if they never saw a round clock dial, and just a digital readout.
Most things are circular in the universe, including time.

greg

That is a strange and scarry tought about the clock!

Actually though, if I have an amp that is like my 11000 watt amp, and
run it into my 1000 watt speakers, and there is nothing to meter it, I
worry that I will blow the things out. What is the best way to watchdog
that besides buying a smaller amp or bigger speakers?

[Danny T]

hank alrich wrote:
Danny T wrote:

I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

Watts is power. What would that mean in the context of a meter bridge?

(I'm easily confused.)

--
ha

My thoughts were that I have a 11000 watt amp and 1000 watt speakers.
Out of the amp comes a wire that goes right into the speakers and out
of my gut comes fear every time I do that˜º

[Danny T]

Roy W. Rising wrote:
"Danny T" wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

Just what would be your purpose in metering output wattage? Would you be
watching your monitor amps' outputs? Have you spent any time watching the
whirling disc in a KWH meter? For me, it's as much fun as watching paint
dry. ;-p

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

I wasn't too clear - in another post I wrote my thoughts were that I
have a 11000 watt amp and 1000 watt speakers. Out of the amp comes a
wire that goes right into the speakers and out of my gut comes fear
every time I do that˜º

[Danny T]

Scott Dorsey wrote:
In article .com,
Danny T wrote:

I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing and
if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one? :-)

The problem is that it's totally useless because the display changes
so quickly. Unless you want to average power over a few seconds and
have a very low update rate. A moving needle (or LED array) is much
more useful.

Vellemann sells some kits for bargraph power meters for power amps.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Well, there could be a peak hold on it that updates every second or 3 -
I get the point though. I was just feeling the need for new toys I
guess :-)

[Scott Dorsey]

Danny T wrote:

Actually though, if I have an amp that is like my 11000 watt amp, and
run it into my 1000 watt speakers, and there is nothing to meter it, I
worry that I will blow the things out. What is the best way to watchdog
that besides buying a smaller amp or bigger speakers?

When it starts to sound bad, turn it down.

And don't ever believe those power ratings. Speaker power ratings are
made up out of thin air by marketing people. Amplifier power ratings
are sometimes reasonable and sometimes not, depending on who made them up,
and usually the data sheet will explain that. If they don't mention FTC
or ISO measurement standards, they probably aren't taking you seriously.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Roy W. Rising]

"Danny T" wrote:
Roy W. Rising wrote:
"Danny T" wrote:
I was thinking how cool it would be to have a meter that read out
actual wattage output in digital format. I think a numbered meter
bridge would be very cool! ... and yes I can watch lights and needles
but it would be much cooler to see a number. Is there such a thing
and if not, why don't one of you tech types get rich by making one?
:-)

Just what would be your purpose in metering output wattage? Would you
be watching your monitor amps' outputs? Have you spent any time
watching the whirling disc in a KWH meter? For me, it's as much fun as
watching paint dry. ;-p

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

I wasn't too clear - in another post I wrote my thoughts were that I
have a 11000 watt amp and 1000 watt speakers. Out of the amp comes a
wire that goes right into the speakers and out of my gut comes fear
every time I do that=E2=98=BA

I had some 350 watt amps feeding so-called 50 watt monitors. The amps had
meters that would have displayed the voltage equivalent of the power into
some impedance ... probably 4- or 8 ohms. The meters hardly moved when it
was much too loud in the room.

I'd say, worry less about your speakers and more about your hearing. By
the time you notice a problem, it's too late. Ask Pete Townsend.

If you really want to meter your amps, 11,000 watts into 4 ohms is about
210 volts. Volt meters that display 250V are common in the electrical
world.

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[Danny T]

Roy W. Rising wrote:


I had some 350 watt amps feeding so-called 50 watt monitors. The amps had
meters that would have displayed the voltage equivalent of the power into
some impedance ... probably 4- or 8 ohms. The meters hardly moved when it
was much too loud in the room.

I'd say, worry less about your speakers and more about your hearing. By
the time you notice a problem, it's too late. Ask Pete Townsend.

If you really want to meter your amps, 11,000 watts into 4 ohms is about
210 volts. Volt meters that display 250V are common in the electrical
world.

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

One of my many problems is that my right ear faced the snare from about
1979 to 1983! The soundman had control and the rooms were big and load.
The doc says my ears are fine but I can tell you that the same sound
going in my left ear is twice as load as what I hear in the right.

I carry a dB meter with me because I don't trust my pain factor to
let me know. When it doubt, I whup it out and put the master so it
reads about 90dB from where I sit figuring its probably still less then
98 out in front.

The amp I have is a Melhart 2400 so I worried I may thump a bit to much
on my speakers. I already know I hurt my ears.

[philcycles]

Roy W. Rising wrote:

I had some 350 watt amps feeding so-called 50 watt monitors. The amps had
meters that would have displayed the voltage equivalent of the power into
some impedance ... probably 4- or 8 ohms. The meters hardly moved when it
was much too loud in the room.
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

Remember the Klipshorn? Feed it 10 watts and it would deafen you.
Phil Brown