Thanks everyone. I maybe should have clarified that i run all clones through their own respective buses, this leaves me with a bunch of clones but they all just have a master volume bus. I also should have said the music is metal.
 
I do typically leave the master around -6 dB (this seems to be where the red starts on the Vu meters if I remember correctly).
 
I also only use Sonar for level checks, it doesn't seem smart to check the volume through anything other than the DAW (however, we have mixed down a rough track just to hear it in the car).
 
I was planning on using all limiter / compressor processing at the mastering stage (not quite that far along ATM) using Ozone.
 
Cloning and sending the clones through a bus does seem to increase the overall volume and increases the value of the Vu meters, but based on what you have all said here, it seems this is not a good method.
 
If nudging becomes necessary (god knows it has been with the drums), I delete all clones before I start. With the intention to reduce the chances of phase / time issues.
 
I typically export to 24 bit wav for all purposes. It seems that 32 bit is not recognized by some software / media players.
 
I will check out the links above, and begin prepping for the master stage.
 
Thanks again everyone!
 
 

There's many way's to achieve a loud mix. 
It starts with each track being good and healthy. Wimpy tracks need to be either re recorded at the correct levels, or at least apply the GAIN control to put them in the ball park. You can also use the normalizing process. Lots of tricks and options here. 
 
But sometimes even after all you've done at the track level songs come out a little lower in level than you want.
MAstering is your friend here. And choosing the correct software helps as it will have the correct tools. 
I use Wave Lab Elements ( $100) to polish  my mixes. It has is the Global Analyzer which will quickly tell you how loud the song is using Average RMS level.  I aim for around -13db. Some go as loud as -9db. 
This is a true measure of how loud a song is. Not Peak. 
Peak level is of no help other than telling you your going over and clipping. It does not tell you your average loudness. The peaks at 0db could be a few random snare hits in the song and now you've hit the top and nowhere to go. You run the global analyzer and it tells you your average RMS is only -16db so now you'll either have to go find the peaks or just slap a Processor like Boost11 on there and add 3 db of gain. I use Steinbergs Maximizer but with my ears wide open. It is still best to figure out where the pesky peaks are which the Global Analyzer will mark for you ( sometimes) 
 
There are some good stand alone Mastering plug ins that will analyze your songs. But most of them cost more then you'll pay for Wave Lab. 

ThatloudguyI do typically leave the master around -6 dB (this seems to be where the red starts on the Vu meters if I remember correctly).

 
This bothers me. You should leave your Master Buss at 0dB and mix into it at that level. You should be adjusting individual track volumes to keep the master in check so that it peaks anywhere between -6dB & -12dB
This will leave loads of headroom for mastering.
 
 

Thatloudguy
Cloning and sending the clones through a bus does seem to increase the overall volume and increases the value of the Vu meters, but based on what you have all said here, it seems this is not a good method.

 
Yes, if the tracks are in phase with each other it's a simple case of maths: 1 + 1 = 2
 
If they are slightly out of phase you'll get some reinforcement but also a healthy dose of cancellation at certain frequencies - which you don't want.
 
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If you know at the outset that you're aiming for a fairly loud master it makes total sense to prepare for this right at the beginning of the mixing phase and to compress at different stages - Tracks > Busses > Master
 
It's like painting - you'll never get a good result from slapping one thick coat on - several thinners ones always work best

Bristol_Jonesey

ThatloudguyI do typically leave the master around -6 dB (this seems to be where the red starts on the Vu meters if I remember correctly).
 
This bothers me. You should leave your Master Buss at 0dB and mix into it at that level. You should be adjusting individual track volumes to keep the master in check so that it peaks anywhere between -6dB & -12dB
This will leave loads of headroom for mastering.

 
Oops, I meant to say Vu peaks at around -6. Master sliders are always at 0, sometimes I wonder why they are there lol
 

Thatloudguy
Cloning and sending the clones through a bus does seem to increase the overall volume and increases the value of the Vu meters, but based on what you have all said here, it seems this is not a good method.
 
Yes, if the tracks are in phase with each other it's a simple case of maths: 1 + 1 = 2
 
If they are slightly out of phase you'll get some reinforcement but also a healthy dose of cancellation at certain frequencies - which you don't want.

 
The clones never get out of phase for me, they are just clones. If any editing needs to be done, I delete the clones, then clone the edited track.
 
We will try the multiple layers of comp / limit, we were playing with it a bit last night. The final master will be done with Ozone. Baby steps now lol. Thanks for the input.
 

Rather than adding multiple identical copies of the same track, why not just add multiple sends to the same bus? That would be a slightly less inelegant way of achieving the same result.

Not that I would normally recommend either method really. If the aim is to increase the overall volume, there are better ways of doing it.