In article ,
Keith G wrote:
OK Arny, try this: when using the USB mic, I frequently have to boost
the signal by 12 dB or so to get a good showing in the software. As a
long-term recordist, due you think this is deleterious to the sound
quality or would hardware preamplification (if I could find any*) be a
better way to go?

What do you mean by a 'good showing' in the software? Do you mean peaking
to approaching 0dBFS?

With pro digital systems, it is the norm to peak to no more than -10 dBFS.
And those are peaks, not mean values.

--
*It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.