I used to run Nakamichi > V3 > R-44, but now just run Nakamichi > Mixpre-6
I'm trying to explain this without sounding dumb. But that's not going to happen... Any way to run into these recorders so that the waveform is the same as what is recorded on the media? Instead of having to adjust levels? I feel like sometimes I run it a bit hot and it sounds brickwalled, even though it's not looking that way on the WAV file.
Technically, you could make Test Transfers and re-adjust the input levels on your recorder until you get the same levels on your input as your output. I'm not sure that's possible via the meters on your cassette deck vs the meters on your recorder. I think it would take a lot of technical effort and gizmos...
Years ago, I figured out a good "working" input level on my recorder and stick with that. If I find that I'm running hot (or not hot enough), I'll adjust and start the Tape over...
But yeah, when going analog to digital, there's no way to do a "perfect" transfer... Its the nature of the analog beast...
Terry