Hello,

anyone know what kind of compression level has already been used on Real Tracks?
Sometimes I need additional compression on the tracks, other times they almost need more dynamic (especially distorted guitars)...

IMO most of any compression is likely on the Source side (what actually got recorded/mixed) before they became RTs.

RTs are made by starting with a recording of a known set of chords/patterns, then PGMusic does their magic.
The sound/FX used on the original recordings will still be evident and often add the character needed for the style.
I don't think they add much compression to most RTs.

Ears are "EVERYTHING". When I bring BIAB tracks to my DAW, I bring them in flat not concerned about whether they've been compressed or how much. I listen to all the tracks needed to create my song arrangement after having auditioned each one to insure the mix is good. Then I set levels, but I use my track gain, not my faders to achieve a combined DB that will not interfere with headroom. I watch my fader levels I set at -12db on each instrument, when I brought them in, and if there is a big enough jump above -12db in various parts, then I use my DAW compressor to tame the jumps within each track.

When all that's done, I begin listening how to improve the sound of each instrument with EQ, Reverb, Amplification maybe, and Pitch correction if needed.

I then bring in Melodyne and make adjustments that way if necessary.

Next step, Link all my channels and raise their level to 0 and turn the output on my audio interface down. Now I can hear what instruments do not sit well in the mix, and do what I need to do to correct that and if the correction caused the Main Fader DB get below 0, I raise the level on the linked faders again to 0, grab my limiter on the inserts tab and select Kill the Transients.

Then I mix down and give it a listen. If I need more instruments, I go back to biab, replace original instruments with those I need and solo them transport back to my DAW.

I don't use Realband, because it doesn't and can't accomplish what my DAW does.

Regarding distorted RT guitars (and others) I render them Direct Input when available and then apply the amp sim of my choice. That will give you much more control over the dynamics. FWIW.

Bud

Yeah, I don't think there's a lot of compression on most Realtracks, but some may have been run through a channel strip with some sort of compression. I would assume the effects to be rather subtle though.

More than likely the compression you're hearing on guitars could've been a compressor stompbox the artist used while recording, or perhaps just the natural compression of a tube amp (where applicable).

But as the others mentioned, using the Direct Input version of a Realtrack would bypass any of those.