The sound is great and the level is high - but the volume is low. All the other tracks have plenty of headroom and good volume but to make SD match the volume, it would have to be in the red all the time. What's the solution, am I missing something?
 
Thanks - rev

Make sure the master volume knob in SD is turned up.  It's default is a bit low.

I tried that and of course it's louder but the level is well into the red.

This might totally not be the answer to your question, but. Are you good on headroom on the Master bus / output?
You could Ctrl (left) click on the master fader and drag down, and it will lower all busses. Adjust the drum bus up to where you want it.
Sorry if I am not being helpful.
Best of luck.

Why not turn everything else down to match SD.  I'm sure you'll still have a healthy signal to noise ratio of over 90 db.  Many people here mix with levels anywhere from -18 to -12.  You'll still be so far above the residual noise level that it won't affect anything.  Many people forget that you can turn things down in digital recording and get away with it.

Yes, I could lower everything else but it seems strange that a prog like SD should need special treatment. I hardly use it so I didn't notice an issue in the past. All other drum progs break my ears if I forget to bring the output down. High level, low volume on drums just doesn't make sense.
 
I did see one other post on the web where the guy had the same problem and people suggested bringing the level up with a limiter but that shouldn't be necessary.

revnice1
Yes, I could lower everything else but it seems strange that a prog like SD should need special treatment. I hardly use it so I didn't notice an issue in the past. All other drum progs break my ears if I forget to bring the output down. High level, low volume on drums just doesn't make sense.
 
I did see one other post on the web where the guy had the same problem and people suggested bringing the level up with a limiter but that shouldn't be necessary.

It's just like Lynn says - lower levels to make room. Nothing strange about it.
It happends all the time - even when vocals comes in or other instruments - that you need to do that.
 
Most drums are available as processed and ready - but SD2 are more raw and as recorded.
There are presets if you don't want that control yourself. Some included, some sold separately as signature presets.
 
SD2 is incredibly flexible to shape the sound you want. Learn about bleeds and experiment with ambient mikes to get the power needed for each mix. Route different mikes to different outs and use your other plugins to shape the sound or just to get separate faders in Sonar for different parts of kit.
 
When you've got a setup that you like, make a track template of that in Sonar - with routing and the lot.
I usually include routing to a separate drums bus in template too, very convenient.
 
I think EZDrummer is more like old DFH and processed and ready.
 
 

>lower levels to make room. Nothing strange about it.
Yes there is! You don't have to lower track 1 to make 'room' for track 2.
 
My 12 tracks are rockin beautifully, lots of headroom, good levels and nice volume. Any other drum program needs lowering before it fits in - but SD has huge level and so little volume I can barely hear the snare when the level is in the red. Something is definitely strange about that.

I assume you are talking about track level meters? And I am also assuming that you have Superior coming back in just as a stereo track and not in multi-out mode. First, are you monitoring your track level pre fader or post fader? Second, just to be sure, you are looking at the SD2 audio track level and not the MIDI track level that is feeding it? I have been using using SD2 for a long time and the output levels show just fine on my meters. Hope you get it sorted...   

Here is a link to a great diagram of signal flow in Sonar. It gives you a really good visual as to how and where your meters interact with the rest of your signal chain. I hope it might shed some light on why you are not seeing what you expect to on your meters...
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/...mp;help=Mixing.07.html