I am having an issue where my tracks are reading well in the audio out put just below clipping, the master out is just a a few db in the red but when export the audio the volume is so low what am I doing wrong?  What is a good method to get volume of your tracks to match their output?  I know there is some compression and gain reduction that is needed for a final mix but I am getting such a low output.  Also if you put a compressor on a track I was under the impression the waves of that track would change to reflect that changes. I am not the best yet at determining how much compression is effecting my tracks yet by just listening but I can at least identify the change like in Sound Forge it changes the wave with every change. Thanks in advance 

Hi BMOG . . . what is your routing of tracks to your audio device ?
1) Do you have multiple busses going directly to your audio device ?
2) Are you sending all tracks and busses to a Master buss, which is then routed to your audio device ? (This is my preferred method for a more predictable export)
3) What settings are you using for audio export ? (eg. Entire Mix, What you Hear, Master Bus ?)

noynekker
Hi BMOG . . . what is your routing of tracks to your audio device ?
1) Do you have multiple busses going directly to your audio device ?
2) Are you sending all tracks and busses to a Master buss, which is then routed to your audio device ? (This is my preferred method for a more predictable export)
3) What settings are you using for audio export ? (eg. Entire Mix, What you Hear, Master Bus ?)

I am pretty much number 2 all tracks going to Master Buss, as for settings I never pick anything but wave files

I usually "select all" tracks (ctrl-a), then export-audio and choose "entire mix" for my Source Category.
Are you selecting all tracks, or just certain tracks (wave files) ?

noynekker
I usually "select all" tracks (ctrl-a), then export-audio and choose "entire mix" for my Source Category.
Are you selecting all tracks, or just certain tracks (wave files) ?

Same exact way you are saying to do it, i have always wondered how to export individual tracks all at once let's say to send them off to be mastered?

Select the track, or multiple tracks.
Then in export-audio, use "Tracks" as the Source Category.

noynekker
Select the track, or multiple tracks.
Then in export-audio, use "Tracks" as the Source Category.

Cool could my issue be that I have the output that I am listening to louder so that it sounds good to my ear and then once it exports the volume is at the level it really is?  If that is the case how do you match the volume of the track to the output you hear?

Not entirely sure how you are monitoring the output, do you have an external mixer, headphones off the Soundcard ?
If you export just "tracks" as source category , I think you will not be processing any plugins you have added in the project, just the raw wave files.
 
Perhaps you should solo the tracks (or mute others) you want to export, then select your master bus as a source category, making sure this master bus is directed to the soundcard out ? Also checkbox any plugins etc being used. Then they should match in volume etc.
 
I'm no expert at mastering, but from what I've read here, you should send out files with minimal compression, and effects, with plenty of headroom for the masters of mastering to add their thing. Usually "mastering" will be a fine tuning of existing complete mixes, to make them sound sonically similar.
 

First verify that all of your tracks are going to the master bus: mute it and everything should go silent.
 
Next, double-check that you're exporting from the master bus: you should be selecting "Entire Mix" in the export dialog.
 
If those check out OK - and it's likely they will - then your problem is simply a too-low average RMS. The meter readings are showing peak levels, not an average, and it's the average that determines perceived volume, not peaks. To make it louder you must raise the average level.
 
Of course, just turning everything up will push the peaks into the red and result in distortion. So the trick is to turn up the volume without letting the peaks go into the red. That's what a limiter does. You just need to insert a limiter on the master bus and learn how to work it. 

bitflipper
First verify that all of your tracks are going to the master bus: mute it and everything should go silent.
 
Next, double-check that you're exporting from the master bus: you should be selecting "Entire Mix" in the export dialog.
 
If those check out OK - and it's likely they will - then your problem is simply a too-low average RMS. The meter readings are showing peak levels, not an average, and it's the average that determines perceived volume, not peaks. To make it louder you must raise the average level.
 
Of course, just turning everything up will push the peaks into the red and result in distortion. So the trick is to turn up the volume without letting the peaks go into the red. That's what a limiter does. You just need to insert a limiter on the master bus and learn how to work it. 

Is there a setting that will show the average that I can change? I will look into learning more about how to use a limiter