Gain on mixer vs gain in Cakewalk

[dwf2008]

So, we have various sources plugged into a console mixer and have set the gain and faders to a satisfactory level for live performance. Now we want to record using Cakewalk which has another set of faders and gain controls. What is the best way to handle these additional controls? Should I leave them alone, tweak them as if the mixer didn’t exist, set them to unity, etc?

Thanks from a noobie.

[msmcleod]

The gain control on a track within Cakewalk has no effect when recording.  It only affects the output level of already recorded clips, prior to sending them to any effects.

Refer to the signal flow diagram - note that the live/recording signal appears AFTER the track's input gain:   

http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Mixing.07.html

[dwf2008]

Thank you Sir!

[bitflipper]

Hope you studied that flowchart, dwf2008, as there will be a quiz later. 

Short(er) answer: Adjust the output of your mixer as needed to get recorded tracks at reasonable levels, ideally somewhere around -24dB to -12dB. Digital recording is very forgiving with levels as long as you stay well below clipping. Leave Cakewalk's gain sliders and volume faders at unity until after you're done tracking.