CALIBRATION LEVEL

[Sput]

Hello All,

I have some concerns about tracking levels into protools. I am on a mission which involes more dynamic range and less mud in my recordings. So I have a few questions. For instance-What exactly does Calibration level in the preferences settings 6.4 pro tools mean. Mine is set to 0 db.....I have been told that I should track around -18 dbfs. If that is correct should the calibration number in protools read -18dbfs... I have been told that the _18dbfs refers to the analog world of mixing where -18dbfs represents odb in the Analog world....Supposedly by tracking at -18dbfs I will have much more headroom to play with during the mix phase...Is this true....Well, I did a small test yesterday and recorded some vocals at a much lower level --around -15db meaning I watched my protools meters whenre the signal looked about 3/4 way down and then compressed and all that in protools and added reverb and for some reason I feel like I can hear my reverbs much clearer...Is this possible? Have I all this time been missing out on the beautiful sounds of pro tools..? Another reason I am concerened about this headroom issue is beacuse I produce music for Film and Television as well as recording artists and with film and tv, I need my mixes to have more headroom because additional processing may occur for the piece upon inclusion to the film or tv show......

Please assist, and thanks for your help

Sput

PC-3.06 GHZ
2 GIGS OF RAM
PRO TOOLS 6.4