Compared to the volume of other media, like Youtube, music in my computer, and so on, the recording and playback levels are too low in my Sonar. I am using EastWest libraries, Sonar Artist, no special sound card (the one installed in PC), Dell XPS I7,64bit.
 
I've recorded a few things and the volume is low compared to media online, as well. I uploaded to Pond5 and had to download because the levels were more a little less than had of the other uploads from other artists.
 
Help, please

Media online has been "Mastered" which raises the perceived 
loudness.  This is why they seem "Louder".

Mastering is an Art unto itself.  There are Mastering
services you can use, or you can use Mastering plugins like
Ozone or T-Racks, if you feel up to the task.  I highly recommend
learning about "Loudness Levels"...

you don't mention what your export levels are set at.
for example are you exporting at -8 / -6 db or are you exporting at 0 db ?
 
Cclarry bring up a good point, if your songs are not maximized in the RMS and only peak levels they are bound to sound weak to the comparison of you tube and others.

Thanks, everyone.
 
Chuck, my levels were all above 6 and I even boosted the master with the Dynamics Boost plugin included in Sonar. So, if I get these mastering software items (Ozone or T-Racks), I would have the option to increase the volume of my output? And, does Sonar sell anything similar to these softwares?

You just need a good mastering limiter and some knowledge on how to use it. You don't need anything expensive. Cakewalk as one that is included in Splat and may be available to buy separately - can't think what it is called off the top of my head. I have it in Splat and have tried it. It's ok! My favorite is Limitless by DMG audio - quite expensive but one of the best mastering limiters I have come across and very usable and versatile.
 
I would suggest before you go any further to search google for mastering, loudness and limiting to get some idea for what you need.

I will, 35. Thank you. The ozone appears to be offered as trial version. I will test it. 

alonzoeg
Thanks, everyone.
 
Chuck, my levels were all above 6

If you mean +6 db, that's too high my friend.
I would be shooting for -9 to - 6 and mix it.
 
open up sonar again and import that file you made at -9 to -6
This should be mastered to -0.2 to -0.3 db. I personally choose -0.1 but that's cause im a jerk.
Remember its not about music at this stage, its about noise and noise level. you want to squeeze the sound to raise the RMS while still trying to retain the dynamics of the song.
 
If you look at the wave form of your first mix (the one that was mixed at -9 to -6) it should have spikes and be jagged looking. the master copy should look more rounded with less spikes. Its all about experimenting.
Great mixes are always done in 2 stages. Mixed, then sent a way to be mastered.

There's also services such as LANDR that offer "instant online mastering".  Granted I have not used such services and I don't know much about them to recommend them, but that might be a fast track alternative to get your music to the RMS levels that you're used to hearing.  
 
It's also interesting that IK Multimedia will be releasing T-Racks 5 with a number of plug-ins for mixing and mastering, and it will include a plugin they call Master Match that "matches the sound of your mixes using up to 3 different reference tracks with no engineering skills required", so it will be interesting to see what this really does.  
 
Personally I would rather have the knowledge of the mastering process and the ability to shape the final product exactly as I want, or work through a skilled mastering service, but it's interesting that there are these new developments to help more musicians produce final tracks.  
 

Wouldn't a good starting place be to normalize to -.3 or so?

How does one record audio without an audio interface??