OK, First off I do apologize for asking this question because i'm sure it's been asked a million times. I usually try and scan through the topics to see if my question has already been asked/resolved by someone else.
My problem is this....I'm stupid...I have been recording dry with Audacity and mixing it with sonar. However i'm not getting the results I want.
I recently tried recording with Sonar and I am loving the results. The only problem is that the output (after I record is way too low). I'm familiar with peaking at this point and it's peaking at -30 usually. Like I said the output is way too low. My ears are my best tools and this just isn't adding up.

What i'm working with
USB Duab Tube Pre amp (project series)
M-audio speakers
Perception 120 recording microphone, set on 0 DB and no bass cut
Driver mode: ASIO
Dithering: Triangular
Sampling Rate 44100
Audio driver bit depth is greyed out at 24
Computer is 64 bit windows vista

Last but not least I am using Sonar 8 producer edition (it's a few years old at this point).
 
I use blank track no buses and I import my beat and then flow over it.
 
I record at -6 DB to avoid clipping although it seems unecessary due to the low volume output.
 
I have checked my pre amp settings and that doesn't seem to be the problem. I'll record just a dry vocal with Audacity and it comes out fine in terms of volume matching up with the beat(s).
With the same settings on my pre amp I record with Sonar (same verse, beat, everything) and the vocals are considerably lower...That is what is stumping me. I do not want to use Audacity because I have purchased Sonar. To me it's like picking generic over a brand name.
 
Does this problem lie somewhere in Sonar settings? If so what can I do? What have others done?
 
Do I need to just record it that way and try boosting the vocals afterwards in the final mix? That seems difficult because the faders/meters whatever don't match up with the loudness (confusing).
 
I do apologize for whining but I honestly hope this is an easy fix that I have overlooked due to being so green at this.
 
Thank you
Bobbyz Tha Maddsun

Just to follow up, I recently researched this like a minute ago..
Basically I was told to check the ASIO panel and adjust the settings there. Does that make sense?
Asio Buffer size is set at 512 samples
 
Latency compensation
IN 32 samples
OUT 32 samples
 
Should I play with those settings?

Okay so it's not in the ASIO panel...LOL I guess i'll just go through what all i've tried before a pro gives me some insight.
I recorded a verse just messing around about 15 seconds of one....Then I viewed it in console form. Output to stereo faders/meters are only working on one side. I think that may be why i'm getting such a low output right? So that is the problem if i'm not mistaken?
 
I checked an old song I recorded with Audacity dry and then mixed on Sonar and went to the console view. The output to stereo is working fine (both left and right fader/meters working).
I still can't figure this out though.

It sounds like you are recording a mono signal into a stereo track. Change the track input in SONAR to the correct mono input.

How do I do that? I may have figured it out. I am still going to record in mono (left channel only) and then right click the verse to-convert to mono- and then change the asio output thing to stereo? That worked when I did that. When I converted it to mono it gave me the jump in volume output and when I changed it to stereo it came out of both speakers. Both meters were working as well. I actually found a walk through on how to do that and just figured it out from there. However if there is something i'm missing or doing wrong please let me know. Do you follow what I did? Damn dude I don't mean to be so dense about this, I do apologize.

There is an input select drop down in the audio track. Make sure it is set to the proper mono input. If you record the track correctly in mono, it will play properly through both channels.

If the recorded track is peaking at -30dB during playback, and there is no processing on the track that would be reducing its volume (volume and trim faders at 0, no compression or EQ) then your incoming levels are simply too low. Assuming no hardware problems (e.g. insufficient phantom power, bad cables or severe impedance mismatches), the solution may be as simple as turning up the output volume on your preamp. 
 

SO my first guess is that Art is not supplying good ASIO drivers.. from the art support page 
"USB Dual Tube Pre ..... No special drivers are needed for basic operation." 
 
Sonar hates this, audacity will have no problem but Sonar is notoriously fussy about drivers. 
Just a hunch. 
 
 

I have asked this before, but would it make sense to record my verse "dry" in Audacity, and then import it to Sonar, rather than go through this pain and misery? For what it's worth I think I have figured out the problem and it was the mono recording thing. Also...I turned my pre amp up and the peaks were around -4...That I can deal with.

...would it make sense to record my verse "dry" in Audacity, and then import it to Sonar...?

 
IMO, no. Setting appropriate levels, routing and track interleave is basic Recording 101. Once you set it up properly the process becomes repetitive, involving neither pain nor misery. You're probably just more comfortable with Audacity today, but in time you'll wonder why you ever bothered with such a limited program.