Premiere Elements 17: Not your ordinary 'adjust volume' question

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the time and effort you're both putting in but it is not answering my question and so I feel like a moron that I'm consuming high-quality clock cycles.

I tried your suggestions

whsprague: your #1 and #3 are, essentially identical outcomes performed in different ways: alter the gain within the track that alters the finished product. Both 1 and 3  tend to be "global" adjustments, affecting the whole track. #2 allows micro control, allowing second-by-second adjustment. But the important thing is, what sounds good in the UI editing session will be exactly what you want when the project is exported (if the computer processes the sound at the same amplification level).

Ann: you have been patient to give detailed, robust written instructions in the same way.

And were this just a "doesn't this guy get how to alter volume for his finished project??" I'd be right there with you. ...but it's not.

The more I think about it, my first explanation is the best--evidence suggests the Elements UI is bypassing windows volume control and sending audio directly to my audio output. The level is about 20dB above ordinary listening levels--it's very close to using the Windows control and setting volume to 100%.

[Side note:  I can take the Windows volume control from mute to zero to 100 and it has no effect on the volume level playing while working in the Elements UI]

If I endure that blast and leave the audio track unmolested and compile/export the project and then play the resultant mp4, the volume level is where I want it--because now it's playing through Windows.

But if I follow any of your (excellent, detailed) suggestions for making audio listenable while in the UI, whatever dB reduction that was applied transfers to the final and that 18-21dB reduction makes the audio almost disappear.

If you want to play one more round...

Are you running iOS or Win version? If Win, Intel or AMD processor?

This is an attempt to troubleshoot at a deeper level.

I ran Premiere Elements 4 for, oh, several decades and decided to do a version upgrade. But I didn't control for one variable at a time and did it at the same time as I purchased my first AMD PC. So I don't know if the old Elements would have had the same volume issue (which would have been suggestive of hardware--or maybe the Win version of a new version)--or if perhaps there was a new software adjustment buried 3 levels down that "everyone" knows without documenting.

I'll stop prattling. I've ordered an in-line volume control that I'll stick in for Elements projects. I have to consider those around me and "as is" it's not acceptable.

Thanks again for the patient time and effort you put into trying to assist.

If the audio comes in too loud you adjust this with the gain.

With the volume you tweak the output.