Please help me figure out why my tracks are quiet.

[jackasspenguin]

I can't figure out why my tracks aren't as loud as everyone elses. I've uploaded a test example here. https://soundcloud.com/jackasspenguin/test/s-QMFde

I don't know if this is hardware related It can't be specifically related to my recording software. If this is the wrong forum section....please forgive!

When I listen to my test example...then to something else on sound cloud. I have to turn that track down. When I come back to mine I can tell it's much quieter and I have to turn the level back up.

I have the master fader and main out meter not steady in the red. I just don't understand. Does Cuemix have anything to do with it? I'm tried to normalize a mix and then export it. I'm using Sonar Platinum. When I export audio I do 44.1k at 16. I don't know. I've been dealing with this for a long time now. It's driving me crazy.

Someone told me to go buy some mastering software. Really? I need other software just to get my stuff loud? There has to be something going on here that I'm not getting. Uhg. Thanks for any help. Cheers!

[HCMarkus]

You need a mastering limiter. I bet Sonar has a stock plug in just waiting for you use it.

Look for it, then apply to taste. Careful not to oversquash! (brick wall limiter)

[FMiguelez]

What HCMarkus said...

For this style, you'll also need lots of individual track compression applied tastefully.
Your master will probably end up looking like a squared sausage, if you want your track to be loud and competitive.... But don't squeeze the life out of it

[jackasspenguin]

Great! I'll experiment with that. Yes Sonar has the Sonitus suite that has a compressor limiter as well as others.

The audio I imported into each track was from a suite I bought online called beatservice. They seem to be very loud and limited. When I play the track the meter slams up to 0 db. It's super loud already. So, I guess I'll work on using a limiter on the master buss....But.....I got that meter up to 0db as well or whatever and it's still really quiet. I guess I'll compress it more. Thanks. Perhaps there is a mastering template inside Sonar Platinum I can look for. Or maybe someone has created one I can check out. Thanks a bunch!

[daniel.sneed]

Just 2 cents:
As Bob Katz suggested in his book, you may find liberating to use a calibrated monitoring level.
Following his advices, I use SMPTE RP200 standard level for tracking and mixing, which I call, and label, my 0dB at listening position.
And a different and lower gain, usually -12dB, whenever mastering or listening to already mastered audio.