Dumb question- do you absolutely need to record sounds at 'high' lev

["Dave A." taijidave]

Hi all--
I have a Dumb Question- do you absolutely need to record sounds at 'high' l=
evel...? Esp. if you're using a digital recorder?

I know that the original reason for recording at high levels, ie w/ analog =
equipment, was to raise the signal as much as possible above the noise floo=
r, which usually was the tape transport/etc. But now, if we're recording di=
gital, & whatever noise is generated by the pre's anyway, then what's the d=
ifference between recording w/ lots of gain in the field... vs. just adding=
 gain later in 'post?

Ie, are good pre's able to add significant gain w/o increasing relative noi=
se, ie something which you couldn't do in 'post (eg. a 'gain' increase made=
 in post would increase both signal & noise equally).

I've tested the difference on some live music &/or lectures I've been recor=
ding, & can't tell the difference... so does this make a bigger difference =
with very quiet original sounds?

TIA,
dave