Adjusting the levels of different songs

[Vulcain]

Hails,

I have to mix in different projects for CPU reason and I was wondering: how can I easily and reliably adjust the song levels so that they all sound as loud?
It is not an issue for classical songs but mainly for intro / outro for which I cannot trust the peak levels.

Thanks

 

[Plankis]

Mix the songs, bounce them, then import all the the mixed songs to one session.

 

[cent73]

Oh, why can't you rely on peak levels?

If you think the songs might come out at different levels after mixing, then what you want is to properly master them. One of the tasks of mastering is to take care of different song levels.

Also, to get a similar level of any tracks within a project I copy channel settings from one track to another (e.g. gtr. A to gtr. A) Does your mixing software allow it?

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Try mastering?

 

[ahjteam]

yup, this is what mastering is for.

 

[Vulcain]

You mean I don't have to bother for levels during the mix?
That would mean I just have to deliver a mix with each song peaking at max -6db to the mastering studio, even if intro / outro will sound much louder?

@cent73: I have copied the mixer from one project to the others but my problem is for the songs like intro / outro where there are no drums nor vocals so if I rely on the peak level these tracks will sound much louder than the "instrumental" songs.

Thanks

 

[waltz mastering]

You mean I don't have to bother for levels during the mix?
That would mean I just have to deliver a mix with each song peaking at max -6db to the mastering studio, even if intro / outro will sound much louder?

@cent73: I have copied the mixer from one project to the others but my problem is for the songs like intro / outro where there are no drums nor vocals so if I rely on the peak level these tracks will sound much louder than the "instrumental" songs.

You don't need to worry about the relative levels of the mixes as they pertain to each other. As long as there is some head room in each mix, the final level matching will get sorted out in mastering.

 

[Vulcain]

OK thanks.
And is -6db peak a good value to let some headroom for the mastering?

 

[waltz mastering]

OK thanks.
And is -6db peak a good value to let some headroom for the mastering?

Yes. That's a great level that works very well,..especially if the ME is using an analog chain.

 

[Vulcain]

Thanks!