I feel like the level is too low in my DAW.

I feel like the level is too low in my DAW

If your signal level appears low in your DAW, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. The final level is influenced by many factors: your source volume, mic technique, gain staging, interface settings, cabling, and even how your DAW meters are configured.

Our Virtual Microphone System is designed for a wide dynamic range and does not compress or color the input signal like some microphones and preamps do. As a result, the signal may look lower on an average (RMS) meter than you're used to—especially if you're coming from gear that tends to "saturate" or limit transients.

Because the system captures a clean, unprocessed signal, average levels may appear lower than expected. This is normal, and often preferable for mix flexibility.

🔍 Factors That Affect Meter Levels

• Volume of the sound source (voice/instrument)
• Distance from the mic
• Room reflections and acoustics
• Ambient temperature and humidity (minor effect)
• Use of a windscreen or pop filter
• Mic model in use
• Quality and condition of mic cables (imbalanced cables can reduce signal)
• Mic preamp gain settings and topology
• Balanced vs. unbalanced output cabling
• Interface type and input configuration (mic vs. line)
• Interface input gain mode (unity gain vs. variable)
• Input level setting (-10 dBV or +4 dBu — use +4 if available)
• Presence of a digital mixer or control software between the mic and the DAW
• dBFS reference level settings
• DAW input channel settings
• Metering mode (peak, RMS, LUFS, etc.)
• Pre-fader vs. post-fader metering
• Plugins inserted on the track or bus

Because so many variables are involved, there’s no single “correct” level that will work for every session. If you’re unsure whether your levels are optimal, we can help walk you through a few things to check.

Still have questions?

Contact us here and we’ll help you troubleshoot or narrow down what might be causing the issue.