Hello.

I am a little bit confused on the guitar instrument input level, about how much gain it needs in order to be around standard -18 between -12 decibels and max peaks not going beyond -6 decibels, which is mostly recommended for recording in a Daw.

When The instrument level is on the lowest, it doesn't have good enough strength, sounds kind of weak, lacks sustain, and plugin sounds not so powerful. But It sounds good if I crank up the ins. level about 3-4 times, it starts to sound actually very good.

The problem is, I've watched videos, and they all say, I have to hit strings hard to adjust the level, not to exceed -6 db volume.
And Even if I go one click from lowest input level to another, and hit strings hard, it does go over -6 db's.

In this case, should I just play the notes lightly in order not to clip but sound good, or I should be playing stronger, at lowest input level in order to not clip?

And there is also input gain level on the plugin as well, which is another thing confusing.

Let me know your thoughts what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

Daw: Reaper
Audio Interface: Babyface Regular (Max input 12db, at lowest)
Plugin Neural DSP, Tonex.