Matching track volumes on a CD: one is quite quiet

[huejahfink]

Why is it not an option to change the 1 track? Genuine question.

[Rdodz]

it was mastered elsewhere and has been limited.

i'm only compiling the CD, and there is a deadline coming up (monday)

[huejahfink]

Is the nature of the track similar to the others?
If the track is naturally quieter due to it's overall spirit, mood and arrangement then maybe not to worry about it and just let it be quieter.

Personally I wouldn't worry about 're'processing the quiet track to make it a bit louder even though it has already been limited once. You don't necessarily have to go "all the way". If you are not confident to do that, and insist that the tracks should have the same perceived volume - then yeah, turn the other ones down. But if you are doing it from 16bit files that have already been processed, this could be more destructive than pushing the quieter one.

What is the compilation for may I ask?

[Rdodz]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Is the nature of the track similar to the others?
If the track is naturally quieter due to it's overall spirit, mood and arrangement then maybe not to worry about it and just let it be quieter.

Personally I wouldn't worry about 're'processing the quiet track to make it a bit louder even though it has already been limited once. You don't necessarily have to go "all the way". If you are not confident to do that, and insist that the tracks should have the same perceived volume - then yeah, turn the other ones down. But if you are doing it from 16bit files that have already been processed, this could be more destructive than pushing the quieter one.

What is the compilation for may I ask?

it's of a similar nature to the other tracks on the CD (all tech house style)

so i just pushed it by another dB with a limiter and that seems closer to solving the problem: i was worried that re-limiting a limited file would be a big no-no but it sounds ok

i might just roll with that!

[huejahfink]

It might not be ideal but you have to roll with what's best for the compilation in the time permitted. By the sound of things it's turning out ok.

[acorneau]

One more option...

Turn the one track up a bit and turn the others down just a touch. You'd be surprised what a half dB up and a half dB down will do.

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by acorneau

You'd be surprised what a half dB up and a half dB down will do.

Bring the relative levels 1dB closer? Just a wild guess

[acorneau]

Originally Posted by huejahfink

Bring the relative levels 1dB closer? Just a wild guess

Right; instead of boosting/limiting the one quieter track a full +1dB, only go +0.5dB and bring the others down a half dB. If 2dB is needed then go +1/-1 to give you the 2dB difference.

Again, just another option.

[huejahfink]

Completely understood the 1st time, yep totally valid....... just that turn of phrase "You'd be surprised" made me chuckle is all.
Good day!