NS2 into interface/mixer -- question about master volume...

[turnstyle]

If I have:
NS2 >> interface/mixer >> powered monitors

Is is generally best to leave the NS2's master volume near max?

[kelpchofs]

Yes. If I'm recording into a line input I always have it on full. For live I tend to run it at 3 o'clock.

[mhorspool]

As far as I can remember from my limited education on the topic, you ideally need to be feeding your interface/mixer an input at +4 or -10 DB, depending on its configuration (usually +4 for 1/4 inch jacks and -10 for fonos and mini jacks). Quite where that point is on the Stage, I don't know. I've always ran it at 11:00 and let the mixer deal with the rest, firstly because that's what college taught me to do with everything else I owned, and secondly because it gives me enough headroom either side to adjust things if I've got a programme that's particularly loud or quiet.

[whitenoise]

It's matter of signal to noise ratio. You get the best ratio value if you run NS2 at highest master volume setting. As mhorspool mentioned you may adjust the mixer/sound card input sensivity to -10dB. If the signal is still too hot bring the NS2 volume a little bit down.