Volume on final mix/export

How to use MultiTrack DAW
notquiteaxl
Posts: 23
Joined: April 2nd, 5:06 pm

Volume on final mix/export

Post by notquiteaxl »

I'm trying to export individual tracks (via WAV format) of the same project to be laid out together again. I'm finding that after exporting each track, they take on a new volume level - I guess that's normalization. Is there any way to combat that, so the tracks can be put back together with the mix levels being correct in correlation with each other?

If there's any confusion in what I'm trying to say, here's an example: You record two guitar takes, one panned left and one panned right, and the left guitar is to be significantly quieter than the right. If after mixing them as a whole, you export them individually and then lay them side by side, the left guitar isn't quieter anymore. Is there a way to solve that issue? Thanks!
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pwnified
Posts: 1571
Joined: August 17th, 9:41 pm

Re: Volume on final mix/export

Post by pwnified »

Unfortunately not. Looking back at the code, it seems there are 2 reasons that tracks are normalized. If tracks are higher in volume, i.e. there are effects or volume boosts, that could cause the track to easily clip the 16 bit space so it must be reduced on final export to a 16 bit file. And if tracks are lower than original by a large amount, exporting them like that bakes in the noise level, if they are ever going to be raised in volume again.

However a case can be made if all the above conditions are false, ie. no effects, zero dB on all faders, pan in dead center, etc. In fact, I thought I had code in there to do that, but it must have got refactored out. I'll look into this, it should at least be an option. Thanks for bringing it up.
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notquiteaxl
Posts: 23
Joined: April 2nd, 5:06 pm

Re: Volume on final mix/export

Post by notquiteaxl »

Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure I understand, but I'll leave the understanding to you, haha!

I did try to solve it by mixing two tracks together on export at the same time - the track important to me, and then an additional track with a minor, unnecessary click or something at the end. My thought was that if I mixed each individual track - in which I intended to manipulate the volume - and then an additional sound on another track, each track would retain their "mix" volume in relation to the extraneous track... it didn't pan out that way - pun intended. I'll find a trick in it somewhere. Thank you for your quick response.
Anorton
Posts: 307
Joined: June 20th, 11:13 am

Re: Volume on final mix/export

Post by Anorton »

It might get time consuming, but you could try exporting by soloing each track and then using AudioBus to send the track into another app like AudioShare.