Using proper gain staging

Gain staging is the proper level setting of each section of the signal path so that none of them overload.…Let's look at how to do just that.…Since you may have several signal processors in your signal path while recording, it's…important that any one of them isn't being overdriven.…This may result in anything from the tone changing slightly to some outright hard sounding distortion.…In most cases the signal path is going to be rather simple, which is the mic preamp into your DAW.…In this case make sure that the overload LED isn't being lit on the mic preamp, if it is,…back off on the input gain.…

If it's still overloading engage the attenuator pad and readjust the input gain control.…The next thing to check is your DAW. Is the level too hot?…If so, back off to Trim control if there is one until a level reads about -10 dB.…If your DAW doesn't have a Trim control then decrease the output level of the microphone…preamp until the DAW level reads about -10.…In this example, we've added an outboard EQ to the signal chain.…