Give it some space. This "safety margin" is the region between the nominal operating level and the clipping point.

When an audio tech says you have a lot of headroom, it means there's a lot of space in the system for the program material to be louder without distortion or overtaxing the gear. With adequate headroom, the audio equipment can accommodate unexpected loud audio transient signals. If you set your gain stages properly, you should have an optimal amount.

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