Template talk:L1 Model II Analog Input Gain Staging
Output Level Setting
Regarding the note under level setting "Adjust the volume of the Third Party Mixer Main Output to the maximum output without distortion. This may be marked as unity or 0 dB."
+4dBu is the reference point on most analog consoles, but while that may read 0dB or unity on an analog console main meter, on a digital console meter it will read -18dBFS (dB below Full Scale) in the US, or -20dBFS in the EU. Suggest changing "This may be marked as unity or 0 dB" to something like:
This may be marked as unity or 0 dB on analog consoles, or -18dB on digital consoles. Check your mixer manual to be sure.
All consoles also have headroom built in and can go up to +12, +18, even +28dBu above the reference level in some cases without distortion (or at least that which you can hear). This additional headroom is designed in to allow the mixer to handle sudden signal spikes without distortion, and the listener should not hear any unless the manufacturer's specified max specified output level is exceeded. Suggest changing "maximum output without distortion" to "reference" or "nominal" output level.