How high with trim knobs

[jingleheimer]

Now i was talking to my friend that i record with and we were talking about levels. so my question is Q: What level should we set to record at i thought i remember someone saying that -6db was what you should try with in digital recording but he thinks we should try to get as close to 0 as possible like maybe -0.6db? what is the truth in all of this?

 

[pdadda]

Are you recording in 16 bit? 24 bit? In 16 bit, I usually set peaks at -6db when setting levels, maybe even lower. People always play louder when they are actually recording. In 24 bit, you can leave yourself even more headroom.

 

[mixsit]

There is no particular advantage to worrying about hugging up around maximum. If fact, if you thing about the analog gear the feeds the converter, 'nominal' (zero') is supposed to have headroom above. Zero' on the mixer or pre can align to the -18 to -12 range on an average or RMS meter, allowing a comfortable, clean, worry free room for the peaks.
Wayne

 

[mixsit]

Coincidentally, or maybe not..
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/8778/0

 

[jingleheimer]

Coincidentally, or maybe not..
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/8778/0

Hey Thanks for the site i think that helped alot and showed me that maybe i should specify my question alittle more. I primarily record by going through my mixer through a USB rca cable interface then to cakewalk. My question then is not what gain to set my mixer at but instead cakewalk. From what i read on that site is that the mixer even if set at nominal (o db) still has some head room but what about cakewalk? it doesnt seem to have any head room to me. So from this i take it people recomend that you record at -6 db or -12 db but does that loose any quality in the recording? Thank you all very much and have a Merry Christmas -Jingleheimer-

 

[mixsit]

... So from this i take it people recomend that you record at -6 db or -12 db but does that loose any quality in the recording? Thank you all very much and have a Merry Christmas -Jingleheimer-

By one way of looking at it, no. At least not that will be heard -with the stipulation that the noise and distortion of conversion errors are adequately covered by your analog noise and distortion. That being the virtue of 24-bit's -144 dB floor. That leaves you free to operate your analog ends as you please, including whichever gains (or losses ) in quality that might be had running things hot as hell if you like.
'Lay person/user' qualification insert here.

 

[Dani Pace]

Whether you set for -3db, -6db, or -12db, simply keep in mind, no distortion is what you are trying to get on the recording. Distorted instruments on a recording is one thing, a distorted recording is something entirely different. Chances are that you will be better off to record at a greater db cut then bring things up later in the mix if you need to.