ah right, you didn't make that clear
think i know what it is... the levels displayed on the master of the DJM are the levels being sent to the master channel. this is very different to the line level outputs at the record out. if you plug a recording device into the rec outs and press record and then turn down the master to zero, there will be no effect on the rec out signal. it's the record out signal you should be using as a basis for finding your right datum point.
not entirely sure what you're tryign to achieve, but i i usd to record a lot of DJ sets on mine and did the following to get a good readout:
- use the booth output to listen to the mix... this way you can turn up and down without effecting the master LEDs which will be your datum
- run one channel peaking at 0dB into the mixer, put fader up to a set point which will be your maximum (as i outlined above, i use
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
and route the record output of the mixer into another channel so you can monitor the return level
- set your channel gain so the mixer line level output is peaking at 0dB (or lower - see below)
- now adjust the master fader so that the LEDs so they're peaking at 0dB and then never touch it again!!! this is know your datum point and the master LEDs are now showing something useful to you. Note that you're not actually using the master channel for anything as you're monitoring through the booth... the fader could effectivly be at zero, you're only using it for the LED readout. Of course you can't do this if playing in a club, but generally then you care less about whether you're peaking at -6, -3 or 3, just whether it's loud enough
i found on mine that 8 on the channel and 8 on the master with normalised track being played of CDJ gave me about -3dB peaks at the other end. A word of warning, if you're setting your master output levels to be 0dB then in the real world youre likely to get some clipping unless you're damn careful. hence when mixing i ad it set to be aiming for -3 so if i go over that a little i'm not gonna get clipping.
make sense?