The Recording Signal Path:
Microphone :
The first link in our recording chain which converts sound wave energy into electrical signal. The most common ones are Dynamic and Condenser. Condenser microphones frequency range is wider and require 48 volt dc 'phantom power' usually supplied by mic pre amp or sound card.

DI Box :
A DI box is used to convert a signal from one level and impedance to another.Any instrument using a pick up ,piezo etc.with need their outputs to be "matched" with the low impedance input of the mixer’s mic preamp. A bass guitar will not sound at its best if it is plugged straight into the line input of a console but when using a DI box will assure a full high resolution signal with minimum degradation of sound quality.

Connectors :
Most professional mics use 3-pin XLR connector which is connected to the microphone and plugs into the mic preamp input. This connector uses balanced lines which greatly reduces noise and can provide the usage of longer cable lengths. So these advantages make balanced lines the natural choice for connecting Microphones and DI Boxes.

Microphone Pre Amplifier & Gain structure :
The Mic amp is one of the most important yet overlooked links in the recording chain It’s a critical component to the tone of your tracks.There are basically 2 types of mic pre amps solid-state and tube. Choosing between them is a matter of taste and aesthetics. A good solid state design will give you a clean transparent sound and the vacuum tube will color it by adding some harmonic distortion which many perceive as “warmth” In any case you’ll want a preamp that provides a detailed sound, and that has a wide dynamic range – enabling you to turn the gain up on softer signals without adding noise but also providing enough headroom so a loud source won’t get instantly distorted. A cheap mic preamp can sound dull, lifeless, and will often distort your signals. Setting proper levels throughout the recording chain will assure the signals are well recorded.

You need to get healthy levels on your preamp,but with enough headroom in case your sources get hotter. One the other hand make sure your levels aren’t too low Digital converters,software and plugins sound better with a properly staged signal.and the more of that dynamic range you use,the more accurate and therefore, better-sounding, they will be. Proper gain staging will reflect in the overall quality of your tracks and mixes.
Avoiding Phase Cancellation

Signal Processing in the Recording chain :
The most common used processors in the recording chain are compression/limiting and EQ. Compression/limiting is often used to control the signal's ultra fast peaks which would otherwise cause distortion.Any processing that is applied however can not be undone, so must be carefully applied.

A/D Convertors :
The conversion from an analog electrical signal to a digital binary signal is usually the last link in our recording chain. The converters are usually on the audio interface .Like the preamp, the A-D converters are an often overlooked part of the recording chain. Although the symptoms of poor A-D conversion can be subtle, there is a definite degradation in the sound quality. Usually poor A-D conversion is caused by inaccurate digital clocks causing 'jitter” These can cause a 'blurred' stereo image and unwanted noise.These deficiencies cannot be rectified once has been converted to digital so it is preferable to ensure that your A-D conversion is as accurate as possible.