Fostex PD-4 Owner's Manual page 68

FOStGX
PD-4 DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDER__
Level setting
For each input channel, select the pan position of the input signal with the L C R (panpot)
switches (26). Set the channel to L (left), C (centre), or R (right).
Note: Although the PD-4 has a three channel mixer, like all professional DAT recorders, it will
record tzoo channels (stereo) of digital audio.
The input signal level of the individual channels is adjusted with the input controls (27) and
the overall level is set with the MASTER level control (28).
Unlike analog tape recorders, a digital recorder has limited headroom in response to
excessive signal levels. Once all 16-bits are used up, the digital system cannot correctly
reproduce the input signal. The result is a very harsh distortion.
For this reason it is essential that you set your recording levels with care.
Do not let the signal level exceed 0 dB on the LCD level meters (63). At the same time, to
achieve the best signal-to-noise response, try to keep the signal peaks close to 0 dB without
exceeding it.
In Figure 21, the LCD is displaying an overload condition for the R (right) channel. The input
signal is too high. You need to reduce the levels when you see a display similar to this. The L
(left) channel indicates a more acceptable level.
When recording outdoors with microphones, it may be difficult to determine the peak signal
level. Therefore, you should reduce the recording levels a little to allow for signal peaks. Use
the limiter to achieve a more consistent signal level.
The PD-4's level meters hold signal peaks (PEAK HOLD) for 0.5 seconds.
Overload indication
The PEAK LED (25) will illuminate when clipping occurs in the input channel.
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Recording