the dip switches suck ass. I didn't know about them until I got the thing, and cursed Nutter's name for not mentioning that *detail*. Still, you really only ever run the last few switches, and I never once clipped a tape. It's kinda nice to set and forget. I'd bet that it just wasn't all that loud onstage, remember the music isn't amplified there, your'e really taping acoustic. Test at home, I bet you'll get levels that are fine in front of the speakers.