How to get that radio finish sound in SONAR

that's a big, big question!  LOL!

first, recording your vocals at -15dB to -18dB is fine.  what do you use for your instruments?  softsynths?  imported backing tracks?  something else?  all audio tracks and softsynth output tracks should be about the same volume - actually I tend to record a little bit hotter, usually between -12dB and -6dB, but there's nothing wrong with your approach, but all tracks should be about the same level for mixing.

all tracks should also go to the master bus and not directly to the soundcard.  or if you need an FX bus or Group bus you can send instruments to a subbus like that, but those buses need to be routed to the master bus.  all signals eventually need to go to the master bus and ONLY the master bus should go to the soundcard.

now, if you are "home mastering" then you need to have your master bus output to NEAR 0dB.  "Home mastering" means you plan to make mp3s yourself or wave files for CD yourself but you do not plan to send it to a "mastering house" for finalizing before sending it to a CD replication house.

compression and/or limiting should also be done on the master bus for 'home mastering."  this will lower your dynamic range but will increase your overall RMS making the song "sound louder" more like a commercial CD.  depending on the version of SHS you have, there are different tools available for a compressor or limiter to use on the master bus.

I have more information on how to use a compressor/limiter on my website (in my signature).

well - those aren't my dogs! lol!  I have 2 dogs and neither of them are beagles!  I'M Beagle!  that's my nickname! 

I don't remember what plugins came with S8.5 Studio and while I do have S8.5, I have the professional version, so my version came with more tools than yours did.

look in your FX and see what you have listed and list it here and I'll tell you which ones you can use for what.  you can get to your FX by right clicking in the FX bin and choosing AUDIO FX> and look at the menu listing.  or by opening the PLUGIN MANAGER which, IIRC, is TOOLS>PLUGIN MANAGER.

I was going to suggest that, too. I downloaded the demo, liked it and it was only $189 at Guitar center at that time. It's back up to regular price $200+. I didn't have the money then, and even less now.
But someday I will get it.

Victoria.. my process isn't that dissimilar to Beagles but when I "home master", I like to do it to the completed wave file that I have exported vs putting the mastering effects in the Master Bus effects bin of the project.  I get my mix where I want it, highlight all of the tracks in the mix and export the audio to whatever folder you store things and label it XXXXXXX today's date mix.wav.  Then start a new project using the Mastering template instead of the normal template and import your saved file into the first audio track in the template.  I am making an assumption here that Sonar 8.5 has that template. I use SHS 4 and I assume that versions after had the same thing.. If not, you could create a Mastering Template that has all of the mastering effects you want.  The Mastering Template in SHS 4 has a Parametric EQ, a Compressor/Limiter and the Tape simulation effect all in the Master Bus effects path.  You can adjust all of them to get your track to where you ultimately want it to be sound wise.  I like to use the tape simulation effect at the 15ips, light saturation setting to warm up the track some.  Once you have it where you like it, you export the file again to the folder you want to save it.. you can either rename the file or keep the original file name and overwrite the old file.. your choice.   I hope this has helped.

BD

All, I could be wrong, but I think we're diving in a bit deep here for Victoria.  Even though she's asking for that "radio sound" I get the sense she's still working on getting a decent mix before mastering. 

Victoria, one fast way to get help is, if you have someplace to post your current version, like SoundClick or something similar, then put your current draft online and then post the link here or in the Songs forum for comments.  There are people here with excellent ears and tons of experience who enjoy helping anyone willing to learn.

This set of tutorials are focused on X1 Producer, however, the basic principles are all the same.  I went to school for audio engineering and I learned plenty about mixing, but mastering was a class that I was never able to take.  In short, I was pretty much in the same boat as you are.  Then I found this set of tutorials on Youtube and it opened up a whole new world for me.  Judging by your OP, I recommend you watch everything this guy has posted from beginning to end.  He starts off with very basic instructions for mixing and goes all the way on up to mastering.  Good luck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGRHjV0Y0W0

Reid