Max volume at -3 db when adding any audio effect

[dmtragedy]

I have Premiere Pro on 3 computes, 2 Macs and a Windows 10. Always keep software and OS up to date on all of them. For a couple of years now, I keep encountering an issue where the max output volume is always -3db until I add another "Volume" after it to bump it up to 0db, or use the audio track mixer to compensate. It's every effect, both stock and third-party. EQs, compressor, distortion, limiter, etc. 

Haven't been too annoying of a problem, until recently where I have to repeate the process of adding the "Volume" effect to compensate a lot in a short amount of time. I've tried making it a preset, but it doesn't add the 2nd "Volume" at the end of the effects chain, and adjusts my settings to the first "Volume" in the chain.

I've looked periodically, and it seems like no one else has talked about this problem.

I would prefer not to reset preferences and go directly to whatever's causing this, if possible.

Any advice would be appricated.

[R Neil Haugen]

Wow ... I've never had this happen in over a decade! I can just G to add gain, and push to 0 or past, and start clipping, with any clip with solid levels in the original recording.

What level does your original clip show in the meters?

[dmtragedy]

It happens with all audio. The original can be super low, or it can be full on clipping. Whether it's raw audio from the footage, or even a fully mixed and mastered music track, the second I add any audio effect besides "Volume", the clipping point becomes -3db and I have to add an additional instance of "Volume" at the very bottom to add 3db to bring it back  up to 0.

[R Neil Haugen]

Huh ... that's just not behavior I'm familiar with. Maybe @PaulMurphy could advise?

I do wonder at the reason for going clear to 0?  As for everything I've done, they've wanted an absolute limit around -3dB at least, some at -6dB. As clipping occurs with anything at 0 and above.

[PaulMurphy]

Are your clips mono? If you’re adding a mono clip at 0 dBFS to a Standard Track, Premiere Pro will convert it to stereo (panning equally to both channels). This causes the level to register at about -3 dBFS due to the panning law.

[dmtragedy]

This happens to mono and stereo clips. They don't have the -3db ceiling until I add any audio effect except for "Volume". 

[PaulMurphy]

Just to make sure I understand correctly:

• You have a clip that peaks at -6 dBFS in the Source Monitor.
• After adding it to the timeline, you increase the Volume by +6 dB, and the Audio Meter shows 0 dBFS.
• But when you add any effect to the clip, the Audio Meter then shows -3 dBFS instead.

[dmtragedy]

Yes, that's basically the situation.
The clip can peak at -1 or be a fully mastered music .mp3 peaking at 0. As soon as I add an audio effect, the ceiling becomes -3.

[PaulMurphy]

To help narrow things down, what happens if you apply an effect to the track instead of the clip?