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== Gain Staging ==
Analog devices (and digital devices that emulate them properly) have a ''<u>noise floor'' </u> - a small amount of noise that is inherent by nature and cannot be reduced. Running your devices to output at maximum strength means that The further the signal is much higher than this attenuated, the louder the noise floorwill be relative to the signal, maximizing signal-to-noisedecreasing the SNR. (Devices have other forms of inherent noise that will increase with certain settings Amplifiers cannot differentiate between signal and output levels, but we are only concerned with the signal level vs. noise floor here- it all gets amplified.) Depending on '''The worst SNR at any point in the chain is going to be the best SNR at the settings end of the device, maximum output may be too strong for its internal amplifier and clip it. Then output should be reduced to avoid clippingchain.'''
Running your devices to output at maximum strength means that the signal is much higher than this noise floor, maximizing signal-to-noise. (Devices have other forms of inherent noise that will increase with certain settings and output levels, but we are only concerned with the signal level vs. noise floor here.) Depending on the settings of the device, maximum output may be too strong for its internal amplifier and clip it. Then output should be reduced to avoid clipping. Usually devices are designed with enough headroom so that their internal amplifiers don't clip, even at extreme settings and max output. However, when creating a whole signal chain, several devices that can boost the signal connected together are very likely to clip when they are all set to maximum output. Proper gain staging dictates that each device should have the maximum output to not only avoid clipping its own amplifier, but also the input buffer or other uncontrollable aspects of the next device in the chain. This ensures that every spot in the chain has the best SNR possible without unwanted distortion.
The way you have to test this all out is by using a completely clean tone. If there's any distortion, you have to turn down one device at a time to locate the source of the clipping. Many times you want a distorted tone, which can mask unwanted clipping and make it difficult to tell where it is in the signal chain. You have to listen with a very careful ear, or substitute distortion for a clean tone of approximately the same volume level.