When bouncing a song in Protools the volume is low

[tadros86]

So whenever I am done mixing down my song and I got all my levels set below peaking on my master track, I bounce to disk and to listen back on my computer the volume is low, why is it when I hear a song off a CD I own it's at a good level but my mixes are so low? Is it for the fact that the tracks aren't mastered? Or is there something in Protools that I am not doing correctly.

PS I normalized the track about 14 times and even used the GAIN pluggin in audiosuite and its still low.

[TuoKaerf]

Its because most released CDs are professionally mastered.

[tadros86]

So there is absolutely no way to make the finished mix louder unless I get mastering software? And if that is the case, what software do you suggest

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by tadros86

So there is absolutely no way to make the finished mix louder unless I get mastering software? And if that is the case, what software do you suggest

haha, ironically I JUST got done talking to a client about this (post production facility)....and I'll tell you what I told him.
Yes, volume can be acheived with use of a brick wall limiter. Slap something like Maxim across the stereo buss and you'll get volume like no other....but it can ruin the sonic quality of your mix. The client was wondering why his commercial spot sounded terrible and I told him it was because the other studio just smashed the hell out of it just to get that extra volume. The more volume you desire on a track that has been recorded/mixed improperly, the more your sound is going to suffer.

[slidey]

Originally Posted by TuoKaerf

Its because most released CDs are professionally mastered.

I'm not a professional setup & I don't have a problem getting my mixes up to level

I use a 96K finaliser & maxim