Definition
Input — The audio signal source entering a recording system, mixer, plugin, or processing chain, representing the raw signal before any processing is applied.
Input Explained
Input is where audio enters a system. On an audio interface, the input is the physical jack where you plug in a microphone or instrument. On a plugin, the input is the audio signal arriving from the previous stage of the processing chain. On a mixer, the input is the signal routed to a channel from a source. Every link in the audio chain has an input (where signal enters) and an output (where processed signal leaves).
The quality of everything that follows depends on the input signal. A poorly gained input results in either a noisy recording (too quiet) or a distorted one (too loud). An input from a low-quality source carries noise and artifacts through every subsequent processing stage. The principle of "garbage in, garbage out" applies directly: no amount of mixing or processing can fully fix a bad input signal.
In the context of a DAW, input refers to the audio interface channel or bus routed to a track's recording input. When you create a new audio track and want to record from a microphone, you assign the track's input to the interface channel where the microphone is connected. MIDI tracks have a similar concept: the input is the MIDI controller or virtual source that sends note data to the track.
How Producers Use It
Setting input levels is the first critical step when recording any audio source. The goal is to capture the signal loud enough to stay above the noise floor but quiet enough to avoid clipping. Most engineers aim for peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS on the input meter. This leaves headroom for louder passages while maintaining a healthy signal-to-noise ratio.
On plugins, the input control determines how hard you drive the processor. On a compressor, higher input means more of the signal exceeds the threshold, resulting in more compression. On a saturator, higher input drives more harmonic distortion. On an EQ, input level affects headroom and can cause clipping if the signal is too hot before boosting frequencies. Understanding how input level interacts with each plugin's behavior is fundamental to effective processing.
Sidechain inputs are specialized inputs where one audio source controls a processor applied to a different signal. The sidechain input receives the control signal (typically a kick drum) while the main input receives the signal being processed (typically bass or pads). The processor reacts to the sidechain input while affecting the main input.
Battle Tip: If you are recording live instruments or vocals for your battle beat, set your input gain so peaks hit around -12 dBFS. This gives you clean headroom and avoids the clipped recordings that no plugin can repair. A few seconds of proper input gain setup saves hours of trying to fix distorted recordings in the mix.