diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/src/HostAudio.cpp b/plugins/Cardinal/src/HostAudio.cpp
index 7272b51..6fd21ce 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/src/HostAudio.cpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/src/HostAudio.cpp
@@ -23,36 +23,6 @@
 
 USE_NAMESPACE_DISTRHO;
 
-/*
- * Find the highest absolute and normalized value within a float array.
- */
-static inline
-float d_findMaxNormalizedFloat(const float floats[], const std::size_t count)
-{
-    DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(floats != nullptr, 0.0f);
-    DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(count > 0, 0.0f);
-
-    static const float kEmptyFloats[8192] = {};
-
-    if (count <= 8192 && std::memcmp(floats, kEmptyFloats, count) == 0)
-        return 0.0f;
-
-    float tmp, maxf2 = std::abs(floats[0]);
-
-    for (std::size_t i=1; i<count; ++i)
-    {
-        tmp = std::abs(*floats++);
-
-        if (tmp > maxf2)
-            maxf2 = tmp;
-    }
-
-    if (maxf2 > 1.0f)
-        maxf2 = 1.0f;
-
-    return maxf2;
-}
-
 template<int numIO>
 struct HostAudio : Module {
     CardinalPluginContext* const pcontext;
@@ -65,6 +35,8 @@ struct HostAudio : Module {
     // for rack core audio module compatibility
     dsp::RCFilter dcFilters[numIO];
     bool dcFilterEnabled = (numIO == 2);
+
+    // for stereo meter
     volatile bool resetMeters = true;
     float gainMeterL = 0.0f;
     float gainMeterR = 0.0f;
@@ -190,7 +162,10 @@ struct HostAudioNanoMeter : NanoMeter {
     HostAudio<numIO>* const module;
 
     HostAudioNanoMeter(HostAudio<numIO>* const m)
-        : module(m) {}
+        : module(m)
+    {
+        hasGainKnob = true;
+    }
 
     void updateMeters() override
     {
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/src/ModuleWidgets.hpp b/plugins/Cardinal/src/ModuleWidgets.hpp
index 748f286..7191d3a 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/src/ModuleWidgets.hpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/src/ModuleWidgets.hpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ template<int hp>
 struct ModuleWidgetWithSideScrews : ModuleWidget {
     static constexpr const float startX_In = 10.65f;
     static constexpr const float startX_Out = (hp - 3) * 15 + startX_In;
-    static constexpr const float startY = 73.0f; // note out bg box has 2px extra
+    static constexpr const float startY = 73.0f; // note: out bg box has 2px extra
     static constexpr const float padding = 29.0f;
     static constexpr const float middleX = startX_In + (startX_Out - startX_In) * 0.5f /*+ padding * 0.35f*/;
 
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/src/Widgets.hpp b/plugins/Cardinal/src/Widgets.hpp
index 6906749..61b662c 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/src/Widgets.hpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/src/Widgets.hpp
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ struct NanoKnob : Knob {
 };
 
 struct NanoMeter : Widget {
+    bool hasGainKnob = false;
     float gainMeterL = 0.0f;
     float gainMeterR = 0.0f;
 
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ struct NanoMeter : Widget {
         if (layer != 1)
             return;
 
-        const float usableHeight = box.size.y - 10.0f;
+        const float usableHeight = box.size.y - (hasGainKnob ? 10.0f : 0.0f);
 
         // draw background
         nvgBeginPath(args.vg);
@@ -281,6 +282,9 @@ struct NanoMeter : Widget {
         nvgFill(args.vg);
         nvgStroke(args.vg);
 
+        if (! hasGainKnob)
+            return;
+
         nvgLineCap(args.vg, NVG_ROUND);
 
         nvgBeginPath(args.vg);
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp b/plugins/Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp
index 07c352e..cf50652 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp
@@ -44,3 +44,33 @@ extern Model* modelHostTime;
 extern Model* modelIldaeil;
 extern Model* modelMPV;
 extern Model* modelTextEditor;
+
+/*
+ * Find the highest absolute and normalized value within a float array.
+ */
+static inline
+float d_findMaxNormalizedFloat(const float floats[], const std::size_t count)
+{
+    DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(floats != nullptr, 0.0f);
+    DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(count > 0, 0.0f);
+
+    static const float kEmptyFloats[8192] = {};
+
+    if (count <= 8192 && std::memcmp(floats, kEmptyFloats, count) == 0)
+        return 0.0f;
+
+    float tmp, maxf2 = std::abs(floats[0]);
+
+    for (std::size_t i=1; i<count; ++i)
+    {
+        tmp = std::abs(*floats++);
+
+        if (tmp > maxf2)
+            maxf2 = tmp;
+    }
+
+    if (maxf2 > 1.0f)
+        maxf2 = 1.0f;
+
+    return maxf2;
+}