If you understand VCAs in Pro Tools you’ll peobably know that unlike the meter of an Aux Track being used for submixing, a VCA shows the highest level reached by any member of the group to which it is assigned. it doesn’t the sum of the levels of the members of the group because a VCA doesn’t sum signals. Instead it shows the highest peak level reached by any member of its group.
But do you know what kind of meter you’ll see this on in terms of meter width? if you combine a 5.1 track and some mono tracks do you see a 5.1 meter or a mono meter on the VCA? Find out how it works in our quiz.
Here we have some grouped tracks and some VCAs
What meter width will VCA 1 have?
All mono tracks = Mono VCA meter
What meter width will VCA 2 have?
Mixture of mono and stereo = Mono VCA meter
What meter width will VCA 3 have?
All stereo tracks = stereo VCA meter
Here are some more examples, can you see how it works?
Can you see the rule which is at work here?