Volume of output wave file

[kinfu]

I currently use M-audio Mobile Pre to record bass cover with the Pro Tools SE. However, the output wave file has decreased volume and weaker sound than the preview one. Simply, when i am recording the bass, the volume of the bass sound and other tracks sound great. However, when i export a wave file, the whole volume of sound decreases and become weaker. Therefore, i wonder what are the potential causes and how to deal with it. Thanks

P.S i use Fender MIM jazz bass

 

[whatizitman]

Could be a number of things. I don't use Pro Tools, but maybe it could related to issues common to any DAW situation. What exactly do you mean by decreased or weaker? Not as loud? Not as "full"? Either could be related to different processes. Some things to look for.

Is it something you can live with? In that case just turn up the volume.

- are you playing the wave file through the DAW software? Through MS media player? Something else? Sometimes different media players have a variety of output levels.
- Check the mixdown or export rendering process/algorithm. Maybe the default sets it at a certain level that can be adjusted - which brings us to..
- is the output level when monitoring "too high"? A WAV file is a rendered mishmash of memory bits - in a static form, for lack of a better way to put it. The DAW's job while rendering a WAV file is to make the bits "fit" within parameters optimized for playing through a digital output source without distortion. This is not the same thing as monitoring in real time, through a DAW.
- Are you recording and monitoring at 24bit? A WAV file generally is rendered at 16bit/44.1k, which could have an impact on the dynamic "feel" and range of the file.
- There is a reason people get paid to do mastering of stereo mixdown files. It takes a lot of know how to make a WAV file sound fat, loud, and punchy.

I'm sure someone could explain this in more technical terms than I could, and should correct me where I'm off. But maybe it'll help. Good luck figuring it out

EDIT: Oops can't believe I forgot about normalization. Are you normalizing and/or compressing your tracks? You may not hear it as much when recording or monitoring, but exporting generally adds quite a bit of buffering to keep from overloading/distorting on output. If you have a lot of dynamics, uneven attack, etc..., particularly with bass, it will sound small and weak on mixdown because the rendering algorithm buffers to the loudest passages, effectively lowering the overall level of the track. Mastering always involves some compression for this reason.

Always make sure your tracks are at least normalized before mixing down.

 

[teleharmonium]

I'm guessing you are playing back the mixdown file in a different application with a separate volume control. You should be able to simply match them.

However, whether this is even an issue depends on the purpose of your recordings. If these are demos, works in progress, or practice recordings for reference, I would suggest normalizing (which is usually an option in the mixdown dialog or options screen). If the song isn't finished yet, there is no need to worry about it, absolute level is a final mix and mastering decision.

I never normalize the actual final mixdown for a project that is going to be professionally mastered, and most pros (not saying I am one) will give you the same advice. If you are going to distribute the results to other people without a pro mastering job, then the best thing to do is to use the output fader and a limiter to get the level reasonably high without pushing your luck, because metering in any DAW has its limitations.