How to lower overall volume with envelopes?

Use the offset mode by hitting the letter O, adjust levels, then hit O again to exit the offset mode.

Try Gain Automation. In fact, I only use Gain Automation because of that reason. Once the Volume Automation is done, when the artist or Producer asks, "Can you bring the lead guitar up a bit?" You've got your work cut out for you. By using Gain Automation instead, I can just simply push up a fader. 

Great ideas guys thanks. They all work!
In this case gain automation would be used for gain reduction, but good idea to keep an eye out for fx overloads otherwise.

Personally I'd go with Offset mode as Lynn suggested.   It won't have any effect on your track FX and acts more or less like a post-envelope volume control, while keeping your existing automation changes intact.
 

This is a very good point.  Note taking is not a bad idea in any phase of recording.

swamptooth


just remember changes in offset mode are a bit difficult to undo.  see thread here.. http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2737623

because envelope offsets have no visual indicators of the changes i've made the only way i could keep track of them when i used them was to enter a comment in the track description noting the changes i had made.  that way if i needed to adjust i knew precisely what i had done. 

How about sending the automated tracks through a bus, then using the bus level?

if it's just a short section of the track, such as a guitar solo for example, I would just grab the envelope controlling the solo and move it up. If it's not already marked by nodes, insert them. 

I say this because unless you have hundreds of nodes this is easy to do. If you do have hundreds of nodes in a track automation, you really need to ask yourself "Why" ?  

You can also create a bus and send the track through the bus and use the bus to raise or lower the entire track volume level a bit. 

If you need to turn the volume up a considerable amount.... perhaps it is better to lower everything else first? That is what I always consider when I find myself pushing a fader above 0db to hear something..... turn everything down and reset the mix starting point to a lower threshold.