Hi,
Sonar X1 producer with the Master Bus feeding a Behringer USB Soundcard.
 
As you can see below, The Master Bus has 2 level indicators showing different levesl, with one display showing levels seem to be a bit Hot, yet the level at the Master Bus outputting to the Soundcard is quite reasonable.
 
What am I actually seeing here?
Which level indicator is accurate?
 
When I do a mixdown, and examine the levels inside a WAV editor, its nowhere near the ceiling as what the indicator is showing.
Is any adjustment needed on those Vertical faders?
 
 Thanks

 

Is the console meter set to "peak" and the track meter to "rms"? That would do it.

Hmmm...
Meters all seem to be set the same.
 

Be sure that everything is going through the master buss. Sometimes a track will be routed directly to the main outs. This may cause a difference in output levels. 

I just thought I'd do a "Reset All Meters"... but it didn't do anything.
But another curious thing happened... I dropped down those Vertical Faders by about -30dB, and did a Mixdown, and the resultant file was as normal and a good level.
(Note: when I do a Mixdown, I choose "Buses", and select only Master... as opposed to "Entire Mix".)
 
Another Note: I just did another mixdown, but chooosing "Master Output". and with the faders down so low, the mixdown was indeed very very low in volume.
 
So now I need clarification on these variations, and which Mixdown option is best.
 
Thanks
 
 

Did you check your routing?

Hi John,
By Routing... do you mean to ensure that each individual track is set to got to the Master Bus?
Otherwise... I'm not fully sure what this fully means.
 
thanks
 

Right.  I think I explained in my first post why. In your second post what you described is very common with routing that isn't what one thinks it is.   
 
You're thinking its a meter mismatch when that is very unlikely. What is very likely is a track or buss that is going directly to your main outs bypassing the master buss. 

AdrianNewington
Hi,
Sonar X1 producer with the Master Bus feeding a Behringer USB Soundcard.
 
As you can see below, The Master Bus has 2 level indicators showing different levesl, with one display showing levels seem to be a bit Hot, yet the level at the Master Bus outputting to the Soundcard is quite reasonable.
 
What am I actually seeing here?
Which level indicator is accurate?
 
When I do a mixdown, and examine the levels inside a WAV editor, its nowhere near the ceiling as what the indicator is showing.
Is any adjustment needed on those Vertical faders?
 
 Thanks

 

Those 2 readings are from 2 different meters.
You're trying to compare your Master Buss (right) with your Hardware outputs (left)
 
As suggested, make sure ALL tracks/busses are routed to your master buss and not directly to your H/W outputs.
 
Simple test - mute the master buss. If you DON'T hear complete silence then something's routed direct to H/W

That's the most logical explanation (what John and Sir Jonesey have mentioned).
because think about it, the sum of all tracks to your master, with the exception of 1 or 2 tracks outputted directly to the main outs, what would happen ? you would have 2 different readings.
 
I really didn't say anything those guys just said. so listen to them