Imported files play back 3 dB quieter

[Paul_Ferguson]

I'm finalizing tracks for an album with some limiting and make-up gain which brings the level of each song to -1 dBFS.  Created a mixdown for each song.

I then created a new multitrack session and imported all of the mixdowns into it sequentially to get an idea, master-wise, of what the whole thing will sound like.   The maximum level on all of the imported mixdowns is -4dBFS.  Why isn't the level the same as the imported files, which is -1 dBFS?

[ryclark · Accepted solution]

It's all down to the Panning Law for mixing mono tracks in with stereo ones. You can get rid of the difference by setting a different panning law in Preferences/Multitrack. See the Help files. Or just bring up the track or master level by 3dB.

[Paul_Ferguson]

I thought it must be that.  So I bumped the master out by 3 dB.  Thanks.