Why doesn't this work?

[MadAudio]

about the properly during tracking thing. I record everything at as close to 0 db as i can get it. Then i mix. I dont see what you are saying.

If you're recording at 24-bit, then you are killing your headroom.

 

[Elmo89m]

how? i record everything as close as i can get and then i turn down everything but snare usually.

 

[Robert D]

I wouldn't think it would effect any more spikes, so my question is why can't this be done?

The spikes are increased proportionately to the avarage material, so nothing is gained here. It's still a linear level increase across the frequency and dynamic spectrum. You just achieved it by summing instead of by a gain stage. The only case where this wouldn't be true is if the summed spikes run out of headroom, and peak limitiing by clipping is a really bad idea.