Provided by: meterec_0.9.2~ds0-2build2_amd64 
NAME
meterec - console multitrack audio recorder
SYNOPSIS
meterec [ -tpcih ] [ -r ref-level ] [ -o output-format ] [ -s session-name ] [ -j jack-name ] [ -f
frequency ] [ -w width ] [ -u uuid ]
DESCRIPTION
meterec real-time jack ports vu-meter, records specified ports to take file and replays selected take(s).
OPTIONS
-r ref-level
Adjust the 0dB reference level of the port vu-meter.
-o output-format
´w64´, 'wav', 'ogg' or 'flac'. Format of the take files produced when recording. The same session
can use different formats subsequently. Defaults to 'w64' or 'wav'.
-s <session-name>, -s <session-file>
Name of the session beeing recorded. If a file called <session-name>.mrec exists, meterec will
execute from the current directory. if a file called <session-file> exists, meterec will change
to it's base directory before executing. defaults to ´./meterec.mrec´.
-j jack-name
Name of the meterec client in the jack graph. This name should be specified if using several
meterec instances on the same jack server. Using the same <jack-name> for multiple meterec
instances is not supported. Defaults to ´meterec´
-f frequency
Set the display refresh rate in frames per second. This setting does not affects the pace at wich
command keys can be used, nor the meter peak value fall time.
-w width
Set the number of columns for the display . Defaults to the current console width.
-u uuid
Universal unique identifyer used by jack-session save/restore managers. WARNING: jack-session
requests that directory holding session restore data is erased before session is saved! Make sure
you do not use the meterec-session directory or a parent directory to save your jack-session: this
would erase all previously recoded audio as well as configuration data for this meterec-session.
-t Start recording at startup. Default is to start in playback mode. With this option a new take will
be captured at startup. This allows to call meterec from a script or do a quick take right from
the shell. If recording should only be starting upon user action or when jack-transport goes to
roll state, use this option along with -p option.
-p Do not playback at startup. Default is to start in playback mode. Use this option if you want
meterec to wait for user input of jack-transport to start playback.
-i Do not interact with jack-transport state. By default meterec will set jack-transport state when
user start or stop playback and playback will start or stop when jack-transport state changes.
-c Do not connect automatically to jack ports. By default meterec will use the list of connections
stored in <jack-session>.mrec to connect it's ports to other jack clients at startup as well as
when these ports becomes available.
-h Show options and command keys summary.
COMMAND KEYS (all views)
q Quit
<TAB> Switch between the different ´views´: vu-meter, edit, connections.
<SPACE>
Start playback, stop playback. unless -i option is used, the jack-transport state will be updated
so the other jack clients supporting jack-transport are syncronised with meterec.
<ENTER>
Start recording, stop playback and record. At least one port should be in one of the recording
modes for recording to start. Also updates jack-transport state.
<BKSPS>
when record is already ongoing, this creates a new take on the fly. This operation allows to have
subsequent takes without any gaps in audio. When recording is not ongoing this key will engage the
record mode: the recording of audio is pending until playback starts. This allows to have meterec
start recording when jack-transport state goes to ´roll´
<UP> Select port above in the list. Will wrap at list boundaries.
<DOWN> Well... Select port bellow in the list. Will wrap at list boundaries.
v Reset maximum level vu-meter markers. Each port will record the maximum signal level reached and
display it with a column char ':'. It is sometime usefull to reset these markers for a fresh
start.
n Toggle port names display. Since the port name is located over the vu-meter display it might be
annoying when reading levels.
i Insert name. Helps tidy you workspace by giving each port a meaningfull name.
t Toggles pass-thru for this port. Depending on the instrument plugged in, it is usefull to have the
live audio at the input side available at the output side.
T Toggles pass thru for all ports.
m Mute/unmute that port playback. No recoded audio for this port will be played when this port is
muted. The audio data coming from the input side due to ´pass-thru´ beeing active is not muted.
M Mute/unmute all ports playback.
s Mute all but that port playback (solo). Note this is not standard ´solo´ approach found in mixers
as you cannot ´solo´ several ports at the same time.
S Unmute all ports playback.
r toggle REC record mode for that port. Available audio from previous take will not be played back
when recording.
R toggle REC record mode for all ports
d toggle DUB record mode for that port. Available audio from previous take will played along when
recording. The resulting take will contain only audio played during the last take.
D toggle DUB record mode for all ports
o toggle OVR record mode for that port. Available audio from previous take will played along when
recording. The resulting take will contain a mix of audio played during the last take and audio
from previous take. When using this record mode, you should use take-locking to precisely control
what is the track that will be mixed when recodring. Remeber to remove the lock to be able to ear
the result!
O toggle OVR record mode for all ports
<SHIFT>F1-F12
Set time index. Current playhead position will be stored in this index.
F1-F12 Jump to time index. When playback is ongoing, playhead will jump to stored time index. No action
if this time index is not set or if in record state.
<CTRL>F1-F12
Use time index as loop boundary. Will be used at upper or lower bound depending on time index
value and already programmed loop boundary. If the time index was not set, current playhead time
will be used and stored for this time index.
+ Use current time as loop boundary. Usefull for setting a loop quickly.
- Clear loop boundaries. Playback will keep on reading once the former loop upper bound is reached.
/ Clear loop lower bound. Programming a new bound will move the remaining bound to lower bound if it
is upper than remaingin upper bound.
* Clear loop upper bound. Programming a new bound will move the remaining bound to upper bound if it
is lower than remaingin lower bound.
<HOME> Be kind, rewind.
COMMAND KEYS (vu-meter)
<RIGHT>
Seek forward 5 seconds
<LEFT>"
Seek backward 5 seconds
COMMAND KEYS (edit)
<RIGHT>
Select next take
<LEFT>"
Select previous take
l Lock/unlock selected track for playback
L Lock/unlock selected track for playback and clear all other locks for this port
a Lock/unlock selected take for playback
A Lock/unlock selected take for playback and clear all other locks in the session
COMMAND KEYS (connections)
<RIGHT>
Select port column on the right
<LEFT> Select port column on the left.
c Connect ports.
x Disconnect ports.
FEATURES
Monitor port
meterec has an extra output port called 'monitor' that is providing a copy of audio signal
available at the input side of the currently selected port.
Take-locking
By default meterec will play the latest take for a given port when playing back or recording with
DUB or OVR mode. If you want to play an other take you have to set a lock on the particular tack
you want to ear. This is done in ´edit view´. If a port has lock for several tracks, the track
recorded during the latest take will be played (most recent).
Loops Setting loop boundaries will not make meterec jump into the loop right away. Only once the upper
loop bound is reached, playback will jump to lower bound.
Ports connection
The connection views show 3 ports columns. On the left: all available output ports of jack clients
other than this meterec instance. On the right: all available input ports of jack clients other
that this client. The middle columns shows all meterec ports available in this session. To connect
2 ports first select the meterec port you want to connect in the middle column, then go to left or
right colum and browse to the port you wish to connect to and hit the ´c´ key. Connected ports
will be shown by a '+' sign and highligted if your console allows. For all ports, a ´->´ sign
between the input side and the ouput side show if this port is in pass-thru mode.
INTERRUPT
You can abort meterec at any time by pressing Ctrl-C. The current state will be saved to <session-
name>.mrec before meterec exits.
FILES
<session-file>, <session-name>.mrec
Contains current state of session: list of ports with connections, record mode, mute state, name,
takes map. List of time indexes. Sampling rate.
<session-name>.log
Activity log of latest meterec run for session <session-name>.
<session-name>_<nnnn>.[ogg|wav|w64|flac]
Take file. <nnnn> is the take number. This file contains audio for all the ports that where
selected for record during take <nnnn>. You can open/edit this file in an audio editor if it
supports multitrack audio files.
BUGS
Please report and monitor bugs using http://sourceforge.net/projects/meterec/
SEE ALSO
meterec-init-conf(1) jackd(1)
AUTHOR
Fabrice Lebas <fabrice@kotoubas.net>