If ur recording is the sole final result , (as in a live recording in2 a 2ch master) then it should use all the available headroom - e.g. record high in order 2 sound loud on a CD and retain low level in4mation.

If other channels r 2 b DIGITALLY added in, e.g. DAW multitrack recording - it makes very little sense 2 record 40 channels hi and then use 40 faders 2 trim DOWN each file.

Digital faders have a nasty sound of their own, and within some popular DAWs the lower fader values sound even worse.

I.e. it's best 2 record each part of the digital picture so, that each componenet's fader will remain @ 0dB, composing a final file @ ALMOST full scale.

Y almost? cuz in the mastering phase, which is also a part of the picture, the engineer may use ADDITIVE eq and compression, and again it makes little sense 2 trim down the level b4 processing again.

If however the mastering engineer will have more digital headroom @ his /hers disposal - than headroom should b maxed out - 4 example recording a 16 bit file 2 b mastered in 24 bit resolution.

16 bit (& lower resolution) files r different then higher resolutions, in the sense that low level data is easily lost if recording low, so they generally should b maxed out, if the mixing daw can handle the ususl digital circumcision.

When bouncing digital > digital - and vst instruments ARE digital - level should remain the same, unless U want the fader's color in ur sound.

Changing level will change the sound - the user may decide if he / she likes it or not.

If the path is dithered however, noise will b added and color the sound - so VERY low level instruments may suffer.

Yup, much 2 consider. But the sales weasel that sold U the gear'n'SHMIR did not mention that being an ENGINEER is a major part of the package.

When mixing digital trax in ANALOG, each track is considered as the final picture, cuz each individual track is leaving the digital domain through the d/a converter, and trimmed down @ THE DESK, and ANALOG trimmers, ALLAH bless, sound GOOD.

If some trax will b digitally pre-mixed and routed 2gether 2 the desk trough a mutual o/p - the digital mix case should apply and headroom should b spared accordingly.

So in the digital world trax should b treated with regard 2 the whole picture.

Floating point mixers may give U the notion that trimming down is not happening, as if headroom is endless - however with every digital trim there's data loss, b it @ the fader or through a mathematical summing buss which r actually the same command.

I believe we had that discussion b4, and a search would have brought up the answer.

On the other hand it might b some of the drugs from the 70s that seemed 2 have no effect @ the time, now finally kicking in.

Peace,

Zooot