The optimal setting is imo setting all faders to -14 dB (+ 6 dB fain = 20 dB)
This way you will have more room to mix and to place tracks in the front end.
My experience is that the sound is more open, wide, clear, deep, warm, clean and professional.
just 0.2 cts.
I set faders to 0 .... this is unity gain and truely reflects wh
I set faders to 0 .... this is unity gain and truely reflects what you are putting into the recorder. I also try to record at a digital level of at least -12 dB, hitting peaks (hopefully) at -6dB (hotter is ok as long as you don't go into overs). This way I don't have to push levels to get a hot mix and I can use compression and limiting on the 2-bus ... As with EQ it is better to use subtractive gain management rather that having to boost everthing with the channel faders.
The sign of good gain managment is when you can dial up a mix and all the faders are in a more or less straight line at around 0 dB. I didn't make that up, I heard this from Roger Nicholes in a seminar I attended.