Gain levels when mixing down

[skim]

I seem to be having a problem with gain levels that aren't aggressive enough. The mixed down sound file is awfully quiet, even though each of the tracks are set as close to 0 as I can get them.

Even if I bounce the tracks to a single final track, then set gain levels to be aggressive, the resulting mix-down .wav file is really low in volume.

When I mean low in volume, I mean low on my CD player in my car (I have to turn the volume way up), as well as on my computer mp3 player (the wiggly EQ thing hardly moves).

I'm using CWHS2002. What am I missing?

Thanks!

 

[TexRoadkill]

Try using more low cut and compression on your tracks. It's probably too much lows and low mids in your mix that are eating up your headroom. You can try compressing and EQ'ing the entire master but you will get better results if you fix the problems during the mix.