Sonar 8.5.3
I've got some brass in a track with no effects in that track's bin. I send the brass to a bus (BRASS) that does not yet contain any effects - and the level is significantly lower. Why, I haven't done anything to anything yet?
 
I'm judging 'level' by the volume not by the VU meters.
 
Thanks - rev

The track was being sent probably to the master bus to begin with....maybe the effects on master or the gain or volume on master are boosting the volume and there's nothing to boost the volume on the brass bus

I've attached an image but in case you can't see it, here's the story: http://s20.postimg.org/pkvot74gt/levels.jpg
Drum track Volume is at -7 resulting in a level of about -12 > that's sent to the Master
Master has Volume at 0 and the level is -19 WITH a compressor set to thresh -10!
 
It should be blowing my head off but it's lower with more vol and compression.

I don't use that particular plugin but I notice you have autogain engaged which may be increasing the gain if it is on on the master bus?
Try taking all of the FX out of the chain and see if the levels match.

>which may be increasing the gain if it is on on the master bus?
Exactly! So why, after more volume in the master and an increase in gain from the plug, is the level lower? 
 
>Try taking all of the FX out of the chain and see if the levels match.
Did that and the level on the master is even lower (-24 or more)
 
None of it makes sense.

What happens if you take the plug out of the equation?

Otherwise, perhaps some changes in offset mode? Or your bus input gain is down?

>What happens if you take the plug out of the equation? 
It's worse, the plug is pulling the level up. Take it out and level is lower. 
 
>Or your bus input gain is down?
Were you able to see the pic? Bus vol is at 0 and so is Trim.
 
What's offset mode? :)

Sorry do buses in Sonar 8 not have an input gain as well as an output fader? I forgot when those appeared.
EDIT :
Oh sorry I probably mean "trim", I've been on the X series for a long time now and things look a little different. Offset mode allows you to "offset" fader values with another "hidden" set of faders. The idea is to make it easier to modify global levels after applying automation curves. I think you can switch to offset mode by hitting O. Little plus signs should appear next to the faders in the console view.

>do buses in Sonar 8 not have an input gain as well as an output fader?
I really don't know, I work exclusively in the Track View. I think the equivalent in the Track View is Volume and Trim. Whatever the story is, you should be able to send to a bus and see and hear the same level as the source assuming there are no plugs involved.
 
My bus meter is set to RMS so the level shown will be less than the source but I should still hear the same volume and I'm not. I use the MPL1-Pro in the Master bus instead of Cakewalk's Boost 11 or similar.

What I see is the output of the drum bus and the input of the MPL-1 in agreement (~ -11 dB), as expected. The reduction is happening between the input of the limiter and its output, meaning the volume drop is occurring within the limiter.
 
Although its threshold is set to -10 dB, a 1.5 ms lookahead is enabled and its "smoothing" parameter is 2 ms. These allow the limiter to start compression below the actual threshold to avoid distortion from abruptly clamping down the signal. In all likelihood, the limiter is engaged nearly all of the time. I'd just compensate for it with makeup gain and not worry about it.