Levels? PA playback environment!

[11miles]

hi,

I play in a band that uses a lot of weird voices, loops, arepggios, synths, sounds...
For some time now, we used a MD for the playback, when L channel went to the drummer's mixer, and the rigth went to the PA.
Now we expanded and braoden our horizons, and decided to go steeo.
At least for the playback stuff!
So inseatd of ''normal''(stereo= playback device (sony MD, rack) we went for a 4 channel wamaha MD4s.
A fine piece of Equipment!
It's a shame i will use only about the 20% of hte thing it can do, but i really just need a device that will record and play 4 tracks independently!
I am unhappy although with the device not having an OPT in.
anyway, along with the question!

How do you suppose i should record the signal from my DAW into the MD?
The signal being what? (-0.5db)
As hot as possible, from the DAW and then set the input of the MD to 0db, which leaves enough headroom, before it starts clipping?

I mix the playback so it sound good, a bit of reverb, panning, comp, and a limiter!

I just am not sure about hte signla!

The result ) i woudl like to achieve)
is that when being fed to PA, the playback voice would be as clear as possible!


Anyone with some expirience?

[TexRoadkill]

Record it hot without clipping and compress to taste. There isn't any real trick to it. You might want to compress a bit more then usual and cut some of the bass to make things easier when mixing the show.

[11miles]

Hi Tex,

yes, the compression is very recommended in this case, so is limiting, wouldn't you say?

The meters on my 4 track MD goes up to +6db.
I dont think i'll go and drive it all the way!
Maybe around +2+3db?