Boss BR-1180 User Manual page 14

Here's the catch... !!!
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If at any point along the signal path the signal is weak and you compensate by turning it
up after that point, you risk introducing noise into the signal path. For example, if your
microphone is not close enough to the source or is not sensitive enough to pickup what
you are recording you may find yourself cranking the SENS knob to compensate. If you
do, you might begin to hear a "hiss."
On the other side of things if you overdrive a signal at any point you will get distortion.
Digital distortion is much different harmonic distortion. Harmonic distortion is the
traditional type of distortion that is created when overdriving a guitar amp or a channel
on an analog system. This can often be a desired effect. It may add "warmth" or "color"
to a sound.
Digital distortion is the type of distortion that can happen on any digital audio device,
such as the BR-1180. It occurs when a signal goes above digital 0db on your meters or
the signal overdrives the inputs themselves. It is a most undesired effect as it sounds like
a static crackle or pop.
So the bottom line is that volumes will need to be adjusted up or down at different places
in the signal path depending on what is being recorded. Use your ears and the meters to
get the best signal.
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