Mixer setting followup question to CJays

don't worry so much about the exact values on the mixer, worry more about the levels you're getting in Sonar as you record. 

recording at 16bit limits you some, so you should be recording as hot as you can without going into digital clipping (don't hit 0dB or higher) in order to preserve your dynamics of your performance.

if you were recording at 24bit you could record at much lower levels, also reducing your noise floor and still preserve your dynamics (even if you decide to squish them later!).  recording at 24bit you should shoot for peaks at around -6dB.

so you should set your input gains so that your levels in sonar are reaching those parameters, not set your levels on your meter to a specific setting.

if you're asking about gain staging and whether you should change your levels based on the stage, it depends on your mixer as to which stage might be noisier.  you want the lowest level gain on the highest self-noise amp.

mostly for mixers, this isn't a problem because the noise levels are going to be about the same for trim, level, master, etc. and won't make any difference if you increase the level and decrease the trim because your noise is still going to be about the same.

Hello, I use Behringer Xenyx 802 mixer and a matched stereo pair of condenser mics Behringer C4, both are itemized below. Audio interface is also from Behringer, UCA202 (48Khz, 16 bit).
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/802.aspx

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/C-4.aspx


I am now thinking to get tube mic ultragain module from Behringer:
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/MIC200.aspx

The above setting only once in a long while (1 vocal track in 5-6) gives me (in HS7XL recorded track) one of the channel clipped in one or so instance during the recording. As clipping rarely affects both L and R channels I then cure the clipped channel by coping not-clipped channel waveform instead of the clipped portion (this also helps to eliminate occasional pop-s with Ps and similar sounds).


For sample recording listen the bottom entry in the list of songs at my Google files, my redirecting URL is http://mp3.rusradio.me (the last record - my original Russian lyrics song on melody of Le Vent Le Cry by Ennio Morricone - in the list was done using my Abbey Road Studio 1 modelling with Cakewalk FX3 SoundStage)

Thanks for your help!