Hello Wizards,
 
I have been using Sonar for years to create my wave files.  But I have just started using Sonar X3 for mixing.
 
(Samplitude Pro X has been my mixing choice because of the beauty of the graphics.)
My question is:  Is it normal for Sonar to produce what looks like an extremely compressed initial mixdown even though, on the master bus, the meters never come close to clipping and the only FX on the master bus are H-EQ and NLS (non-linear summer by Waves)?  I realize the NLS can cause this if used improperly.  I'm using the NLS the same in Sonar as I have used it for years in Samplitude where my mixes have never experienced this over-compression problem.  On the master bus I also have the L1 limiter by Waves but the threshhold is set at 0.0 because I'm using it only to limit the overall mix to -0.2 dB.
 
On my aux sends I have a compressor (#1), reverb (#2) and decapitator (#3).  But they are under control and not even close to causing clipping on the master.  When I move the wave file into Samplitude, it appears squashed in the extreme and my music, generally, sounds better not so compressed.  
 
I did bounce the music without any master bus FX and the wave file came out looking like what I expected.
I hope to get the expected results in Sonar because Sonar is a better over-all program for my purposes.
 
Thank you for your time and your help!
 
 

No, not normal.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

You could have the wave preview on on the Master buss to check the look of the wav as its being made.
 

No, it's definitely not normal to spontaneously over-compress. However, it's not too unusual to have the final waveform look different in another program from the way you imagined it. 
 
You've already done the first step that I'd have recommended, which is to export the file with the master bus effects bypassed and compare the results. That experiment has already told you what you need to know, which is that the squashing is occurring in the L1.
 
Even though the L1's threshold is set high, the amount of compression is a function of both threshold AND input amplitude. My guess would be that you're simply driving the L1 too hard.
 
That sort of thing happens to me now and again when I haven't been keeping close watch on fader creep. Everything will be in balance and under control but the sum going into the master bus will have gradually crept up until there is less than 6dB of headroom. The solution, as long as there is some headroom left, is to turn down the Gain control on the master bus.

bitflipper
The solution, as long as there is some headroom left, is to turn down the Gain control on the master bus.

Just to be clear, he doesn't mean the fader as that's post FX but the Gain control that's pre-FX.

Make sure all tracks go to the master bus
All sends go to their intended bus.
All buses go to the aster bus
The master bus goes to the main outs 1/2
 
Them check your export settings. If you are hearing over compression, then its one or both of these things
 
CJ