In-board level >0 ok?

Using MOD devices Usage Questions
1

i think it’s ok to have levels at certain points within a pedalboard >0 — just from a digital DSP point of view, we have tons of headroom since it’s all at 32-bit, right?

the only caveats would be:

  1. a particular plugin might be designed such that it distorts if signal is >0.
  2. we need to be <0 at the input and output of the board.

can anybody out there confirm or deny?

2

Its 24bits

And it can clip hard, you can try if you need a proof…

3

I use this method

Instead of

plugin1 -> plugin2 -> meter -> plugin3

do

plugin1 -> plugin2 |-> plugin3 -> more plugins
                   |-> meter

with all my plugins because it keeps the sound consistently stable — which is crucial — when it’s below ~ -20 dB (K20). The output signal is then just below 0 dB.

Bob Katz Mastering:
Level Practices (Part 1) http://www.digido.com/articles-and-demos12/13-bob-katz/22-level-practices-part-1.html
Level Practices (Part 2) http://www.digido.com/how-to-make-better-recordings-part-2.html