Silly Volume Question - need help

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Stephen Jones

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Heya.
I'm a little new to Cakewalk so please excuse me if my terminolgy is a little wonky...
So I was wondering, I noticed that in Cakewalk 8.04 volume levels decrease dramatically as I mix stuff down. It looks like Cakewalk automatically decreases volume per track used when mixing down, even when there's silence on the track.
This may be an el stupido question, but is the best way to get around this to just jack up the main faders?
Thanks,
stephen
 
I'm not aware that CW cuts individual track volume on mixdown. However, you can either raise the individual tracks, or raise the Master to get around this. Just make sure you're not clipping. If you start to clip, but still have relatively low overall volume, you may need to put a limiter or compressor on the Master (or try and find the "offensive track" and put a compressor on that).
 
Holy Jeez, am I an eeeediot, Stimpy.
Upon evaluation, it appears as though I had mistakenly pushed the snapshot button in the middle of the track, which caused the faders in question to do some silly things (and explains a lot of other things that were going on). Thanks very much dachay2tnr for the help though.
Actually, maybe someone can help me with this next question, although based on the previous question it's probably something really simple.
Unless I'm missing something, it appears that no matter how hard I try I cannot get my main volume faders to stay at -5 db. That is, everytime I save it and reopen the file it moves to -6 db. This time I've double checked the automation controllers and they're clear. I've noticed this happens occasionally with other levels as well. Is there some ghost in my machine?
thanks,
stephen
 
go to the controller automation track

if you go to the controller automation track, you can raise or lower the value that corresponds to the main output. i think mine is normally set to 103 of 127. i don't really understand why you are doing this however.

if the volumes of the tracks being mixed are correct relative to one another why bother to raise the volume of the main out? are you mxing externally to a DAT or cassette or something? otherwise why wouldn't you normalize the mixed track?
 
Ah, normalizing. Like I said I'm a little new to the whole digital music realm.
I was just pointing out a weird inconsistancy in my copy of Cakewalk and wondering if anyone else had noticed it. In fact, I've noticed that the same volume thing sees to happen for all integers from 0db to 6 (ie - the value changes once you save the file, but only in the saved version, not the one onscreen).

So I guess people usually normalize their mixes? Do they usually do it when they Mixdown or when they Master? (ie - Sound Forage etc.).
thanks,
stephen
 
Let's re-open the issue.

It's driving me to drink. After reading the thread I think dachay2tnr may have already answered the question.

After recording a small 4-song demo on PA9, I've mixed, mastered and re-mastered several different times ending in the same result. I notice that my volumes on all instruments are where I want them in Cakewalk; and my meters are running very high without clipping. But, when I mix it down to a wave file and/or burn to CD, the volumes are VERY low. In fact when compared to other audio files we're talking many a decibal lower.

Is Compression my new lord and savior? I didn't realize that this effect could have that much effect. Tell me it's true, because at this point I'm drowing in Dewar's. :p

I've also seen other posts recommending Compressors. Is the one available in CW Audio FX1 adequate? I've seen Ultrafunk mentioned a few times. Any suggestions?

Also if you have any other suggestions on why my mixdown is so low, please, be my guest.

Your newby,
Floyd
 
The best I've seen is the Waves Ultramaximer (although I think this is really a limiter, rather than a compressor). I've only been able to use the demo version so far; however, it is absolutely the best thing I've seen for dramtaically raising volume levels without making the music sound overly harsh. Unfortunately it's also expensive - which is why I don't own the full version... yet.

I typically export a wave file from CW/Sonar, and then apply the Ultramaximizer to the file using a wave editor (Wavelab, in my case).
 
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