Please help with different volume levels in different audio takes

Compile all related takes to one track...Loop each section and find the RMS and peak levels, using either the Sonar meters or some plugin......then try to get RMS levels as close as possible between takes using volume automation lane (you can draw nodes and drag volume up/down)...there are videos on youtube showing it. RMS is gonna give you closer perceptual match than peak levels. Bounce the track down to write the automation, then level off afterwards with compression, etc. You could do it with trim on selected areas if you want to avoid writing automation.

+1 for automation - that's exactly what it's for.

Or you could have your different recorded parts on different tracks and just use the track volume on each track to even out the volume changes but this could end up looking messy if you have a lot of tracks to balance out in this way (but you have the option to use track folders, and they can always be bounced down to a single track once you're happy with your balancing - and who cares about looks anyway?)

Automation is what you can do afterwards. When recording, don't look at the knobs, look at the level meters.
Keep the track level at 0dB (as the tracks level setting has nothing to do with recording level), and set the soundcard
input level so, that the maximum levels in the track meter are around -6 dB (assuming you record in recommended 24 bit, a little hotter if 16 bit).  That way the recordings are at least roughly at the same level. Usually automation is needed anyway, it's very much a standard procedure before starting the actual mixing process.

Recording vocals the other key thing is microphone technique.

Please can you tell me the steps in sonar on how to find the RMS and Peak levels.
 
Thanks again

Frostysnake


I use project notes to write down all that kind of stuff...simple and saved with the project.

Good planning and documentation procedures are not an acceptable methodology here.  


To the OP, don't forget you have clip gain envelopes available.  I don't advise using a compressor in this case.  IMHO, a compressor is for taming the odd peaks so that you may adjust the track volume via automation and not have a loud peak slip past you.  Depending on what the compressor sees as input, will affect the sound so you may end up with a highly compressed phrase followed by a lightly compressed phrase.  They will be the same volume but they might not sound the same.

And yet another way is to Tool copy into an audio editing program where it's easy to render the tracks all the same. 

If your interface only has 2 inputs that you share duty with all your mikes and guitars,  then your always having to change settings. This is where a small mixer can be handy. 

I have dedicated channels for every thing I input. Voice, Acoustic guitar, Mike on amps and bass. So they are all ready to go. If I grab my Bass it's already dialed in and will sound the same 2 years from now. 

My other little trick is  I always clone the track for recording another take of the same input source. This way both takes are identical, even the EFX sends. I just re name it with a " Bass2" in case I need to go digging in the audio folder later. Clone the track, re name it and delete the audio so it's blank.