Wow, I had to read that a couple of times…
So first of all, I have probably checked the monitor level, because I for some reason thought the recording meter only showed for the recorded stereo signal,
but, is this what I should do then to really get a good signa on all the indididual channels I want to record: set the metre at the recording section to default position ( whatever that is called, but I get to it by clicking with the mouse and pressing Crtl, am I right?). Then I need to put the panner either hard right or hard left and then watch me metre. If the meter does not go all the way up then, then my signal is not too hot and I am happy, is this correct?
If not, please try to explain again 