i still have PG Peak Limit as a plugin - is that what you are thinking of? Its a PG plugin so should be installed by default. access through the fx button on the audio tracks you want to change.

the gain change however does have a normalise preset so as long as you really do want to normalise that's what you want. no need to know db settings - just select the normalise preset - not at all unpredictable. it does what it says - normalise the track

if your tracks vary and you want them all at a consistent volume then normalise is what you want