best method/plug in for leveling out vocals

Using Sonar X1 Studio I have been recording my vocal tracks doing 5-6 takes on 1 track using layers, then muting/comping to create one "keeper" track which I bounce down to a new track. What is the best method/plug in to smooth out the peaks and valleys (gain-wise) on the keeper track, bringing up the lower vocals and taming some of the highs? I am aware that you can boost the gain on words/phrases in V-Vocal, and I have experimented with the Normalize feature as well. Neither method seems to produce a quick or favorable result. On my previous recording program (Cool Edit Pro) there was a plug in called Real Audio Compander that compressed the highs and expanded the lows to give me a relatively even (gain-wise) track - I am looking for a similar method in Sonar. Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated. I have all the plug-ins that came with X1 Studio as well as Izotope Nectar.

A good vocal/mic technique to keep the level going in as consistent as possible is the first place to start. 

A good singer that knows how to "work the mic" and uses good techniques, will give you a very consistent and level vocal that needs very little in the way of riding the faders in the mix. 

Using envelopes will also be very useful in altering a word or phrase that is lower or higher then the rest of the track. 

Once you have the output level set by technique and envelopes, then and only then would O even consider using a compressor to reduce the peaks a bit..... always go easy on the compression levels.  Let it sound real.

I use the VX64 that comes with Sonar.  It has a "compander" function that brings up the lows and compresses the highs.  But if you have a lot of variances in your clips you may have to do some envelope work.  I find that clip envelopes are the easiest to use for this type of adjustment, but it is additional work.  To avoid that extra step I'm always looking at the shape of the waves in my clips after I record a take, making sure that the volume is consistent, and using distance between me and my mic to adjust. 

Start by getting each vocal track in the same approximate ballpark, using the trim (gain) control.

Apply a volume envelope and place nodes in between each phrase. Adjust them as needed to match volume across all phrases. This is a coarse adjustment only.


Identify any obvious big peaks or weak vowels that need individual treatment. Pay attention to "S"s that may need taming (see the dip in the volume envelope a

Thanks for all the tips/replies. I am the singer and am pretty consistent with my mic technique, but inevitably if doing sevreral takes over the course of an hour or so some takes will be louder than others. I think the envelopes are probably closest solution to what I had in mind. I did check out the Waves Vocal Rider suggestion - that looks promising but not sure about the compatability with 64 bit. Thanks again everyone.

One easy approach is to mult the track.

Simply duplicate the existing track, then place a fairly hefty compression amount on the 2nd track. When you mix the 2 tracks together the compressed track will site really nicely in the mix but will sound flat/lifeless and take on a new color/tone because of the compression. The track without the compression will retain the life and tone of the original take (because it is an unprocessed original). Balance the two to taste. (EDIT: The Pro Channel compressor can do this on a single channel with the balance control, but I still find myself multing tracks. Old habits maybe?)

Vocal Rider is a great plug in but in order to use it to the fullest you need VST3 which Sonar does not support yet. You need to process it manually (without a side chain) and in that case - you might as well just use envelopes to do the job. (IMO)

I will agree with many of the other posts here though - it all starts with good mic technique.