Yes. Chronic dampness in a Cincinnati basement feeds mold, damages stored belongings and finishes, and signals ground moisture coming through the slab and walls. Encapsulation plus a dehumidifier, and sometimes drainage, solves the humidity even when there is no visible flooding.
More detail
A damp, musty basement is a real moisture problem even without standing water, and it is extremely common in Cincinnati given the clay soils and Ohio River valley humidity. The musty smell is microbial growth feeding on the moisture; the dampness is water vapor moving through the slab and walls from the saturated soil, plus humid outside air condensing on cool below-grade surfaces in summer. Left alone it damages stored belongings, warps and delaminates any finishes, can produce visible mold on walls and joists (a separate inspection and disclosure issue at sale), and makes a finished basement uncomfortable and unhealthy to use. The fixes scale to the cause. If the source is primarily vapor and humid air with no liquid-water intrusion, encapsulation (a sealed vapor barrier across floor and walls) plus a dedicated dehumidifier controls it and transforms how the space feels and smells. If there is also intermittent liquid seepage feeding the moisture load, drainage is added so the encapsulation is not fighting a losing battle against incoming water. A common Cincinnati mistake is running a portable dehumidifier for years while ground moisture keeps loading the space faster than the unit can keep up; sealing the moisture out at the source is what actually solves it. The on-site assessment uses moisture readings to distinguish a vapor problem from a seepage problem so the solution matches the cause rather than overbuilding or underbuilding it.