Volume question.

[badgas]

I'm finally doing some recording.
I've read in my VS840 manual that the volume should be set to just below the peak.

Am I to understand that as I lay my drum, bass, rythme, lead, vocals, harp that my first basic tracks should be as loud as the recorder can go without the 'peak' light coming on?

The reason I'm asking this, it at the end of two verses, I want a low volume, far in the back harmonica playing.

Does the above make sense?
Then when I get to the mixing portion, I adjust the volume there for what I want?

Thanks for any replies on this. I've read some posts about this but they are talking about other things, not just one thing, 'harp' to be specific.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

The farther you get away from "nominal" levels in digital, the more "bits" you lose (resolution). Record everything as close to peak (without EVER clipping), then adjust relative volumes in the mix. As for the harp, record it hot as well, pan it to either side and add a bit of verb. This will place it further back in the mix.

Bob

 

[sonusman]

This belongs in the Recording Techniques forum. Moving it there.

Eddie