Originally Posted By: Notes Norton
Normalizing won't make everything the same volume.

Normalizing is maximizing, but it only maximizes the highest peak.

If a song as a constant volume with no large peaks it will sound louder than a song that has a few large peaks of volume somewhere.

I don't know if there is an easier way to do it, but here is how I adjust volumes.

I turn the volume low, and compare the new song I'm working on with similar songs I'm already gigging with. I tweak the volume of the new song until it sounds close to my ears. Then I turn the volume up and see if it still sounds even.

Then on the gig I re-evaluate and tweak as needed.

I find the differences in volume are easier to detect when the music is played softly. YMMV.

Insights and incites by Notes


For consistent volume across all my tracks I use a limiter and LUFS meter inside my DAW (logic) to set a limit (13-14 Lufs)on my output mix .
Then I analyze and tweak using MP3gain. I re-mix if clipping is present.

User Teunis on this forum helped me along with this approach.
Credit goes to him. Poor implementation of sound advice is on me.
I am very much a novice at mixing but with this approach I have created tracks with consistent volumes and no clipping.
I think my overall sound is improved as a result.

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