# Level in recording ?

**URL:** <https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307>\
**Category:** SQ General Discussions\
**Created:** [9 November 2020 14:36 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307 "2020-11-09T14:36:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jb07](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/jb07/32/414_2.png) [@jb07](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/jb07)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2020 14:36 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307/1 "2020-11-09T14:36:14Z")

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At what level should we make a USB audio recording? I made a MainLR recording on the SQ DRive taking care not to exceed 0dB and when I reread the Wav file under audacity the level is very low. it does not exceed -12dB.  
Is this normal?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![steffenromeiss](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/steffenromeiss/32/2684_2.png) [@steffenromeiss](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/steffenromeiss)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2020 14:46 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307/2 "2020-11-09T14:46:24Z")

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the 0db point is at +4dBu

maximum output level is at +22dBu (this is the level for 0dBFS in the analog domain)  
that means if the meter is reading 0dB you still have a headroom of 18dB available  
it is save to drive the average level of the meters over 0dB, it depends on the signal/instrument

there are already discussions available to this topic

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**Author:** ![steffenromeiss](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/steffenromeiss/32/2684_2.png) [@steffenromeiss](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/steffenromeiss)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2020 14:54 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307/3 "2020-11-09T14:54:54Z")

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some links

[https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-increase-daw-input-level-for-dante-connected-macbook](https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-increase-daw-input-level-for-dante-connected-macbook)  
[https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/recording-with-qu16-direct-out](https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/recording-with-qu16-direct-out)

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**Author:** ![jb07](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/jb07/32/414_2.png) [@jb07](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/jb07)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2020 16:42 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307/4 "2020-11-09T16:42:40Z")

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Thanks I will see that

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**Author:** ![williamadams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@williamadams](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/williamadams)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2020 16:47 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/level-in-recording/10307/5 "2020-11-09T16:47:57Z")

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@jb07

That is totally normal and good to prevent clipping in a digital mixer .

Raise the level in your DAW with a normalize that fixes DC offsets  
Then adjust levels for any editing to make sure YOU dont cause the clipping

Otherwise you could try to raise the gain in the DAW to make the 0dB points align  
but why risk clipping in the DAW ? Record it all then adjust it when you can undo mistakes.