Volume

[Manji]

Is there a way to increase volume on a track without amplification or gain? For example, I have recorded a classical guitar piece with little headroom and overall the mix is on the quiet side. I have tried amplifying and increasing gain, but these techniques also muddle up the recording and it doesn't sound as good as the original. So, when I imported the track to WinAmp, I am able just to increase the volume there or even the computer volume and it just gets louder, exactly what I want. Is there a way to do this with the mix so the user doesn't face the inconvenience of changing the volume. I don't want my music to be discounted just because of volume!

 

[JimmyS1969]

Winamp is adding gain as well. That is the only way. What you use to increase gain can have different results. What DAW are you using?

 

[arcadeko]

Try normalizing the track

 

[Bobbsy]

Adding (or reducing) gain is an integral part of the mixing and mastering process and nothing to be worried about. Every time you move a fader on the software mixer (or adjust the "volume envelope" or whatever your DAW has) you're changing the gain.

Arcadeko is right. The first thing for you to try is normalising your track to just under 0dB (try about -0.3dB). What normalising does is adjust the gain of the whole track so the loudest part goes to your preset number and everything else gets raised by the same amount where ever that leaves it.

If that's not enough, then you're into the realms of needing to use compression--but that's the topic for a whole book, not a paragraph in a forum post. However, try the "Normalise" command first. That'll likely do what you want.

Bob