Hello good people,
 
I often record part of a song and then later record another part until I finish my song, and sometimes my volume levels are louder or softer because I don't quite remember the knobs or the exact volume levels I recorded each take at.
 
Is there a way I can even my vocal levels, guitar levels, and bass levels as to correct the different audio takes having different dynamics so they have a realistic even volume all the way through the song?
 
Thanking you for any replies in advance :
 
 
 

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.

Vol automation will fix that sucker up - that is what it does.

Another thing is to use a compressor to help even out things.  Sonitus is good for that, or the PC.  That is more to squish the dynamics in a take, but will help with various if you match the levels in automation first.

@

+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?)

would be cool if that would be made auto. simple :)

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.

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

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

go to the Console View.

Under the tab OPTIONS, look for METERS. From the pull-down menu, the last 4 options will allow you to set the kind of metering; PEAK, RMS or PEAK and RMS.

you may also set the db range from there.

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.