Originally Posted By: nichollstj
When working in RB (2013) I spend quite a bit of effort into maximizing the volume of the all midi and audio tracks using compression etc. When satisfied that I have a good mix I do the merge audio and vsti/dxi tracks to stereo wav file. I am always disappointed with the result. The volume of the wav file produced is VERY low in comparison to my .seq file.


There should be no need to compress those tracks which RB renders. That is part of the problem.

Let me tell you how I work. this is not the "right way" or the "only way" just simply how I work.

I render the tracks out of RB by exporting them into a new folder. At this point I am not concerned with their levels.

I import them into Sonar (any good DAW including Real Band is fine) and look at them there. Some are nice and fat, full looking and some are obviously much lower and thinner. I only normalize the track IF, and only IF I have problems hearing it cleanly against the mix of the other tracks. Some times that weak looking wave sounds just fine. If it does, I leave it alone.

First thing I do is start my mixing by setting the drums and bass. It is at this point where I will often use NORMALIZE to 96% on the waves in the tracks that appear less then robust and I have problems hearing at 0db. Normalizing doesn't change the characteristics, it simply bumps the volume up so the track holds it's own with the other tracks.

I work on the project as needed and then export it. I generally use very little compression on anything. Especially NOT to raise the volume. Sure, a compressor will raise the volume, but that's not how I use it. There is almost NEVER a compressor in my tracks. The only compression is in the master output bin, and that is very light.

I set my master output levels up for the final export. I tend to work on mixes with the faders half way down....lower volume. As if comes out of the DAW, it's still a bit low in volume. I open that file in WavePad my wave file editor, and after trimming the count in and silence .... I normalize it again to 96%.

I use this process on ALL my tunes. It's rare for me to try to use compression to bump levels and when I do try it I generally back up and go a different route because it doesn't sound good.

Example song: In A World Without You

Here is a screen shot of this exact song as it was uploaded. Notice there is plenty of space in the wave.... it never hits the 0db at any point yet it is plenty loud. Compression would flatten the tops and make them the same, this has spikes at all different levels none of them "overs"....



It is a process that has taken some time to become consistent with. Lots of trial and error went into it through the years.... The journey began when I listened to my stuff compared to others and noticed my tunes were so much lower in volume and quality.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 01/13/14 08:46 AM.
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