I am using two options available in the DAW that I use, Normalization and Compressor/limiter. Hopefully your DAW has them both .
Normalize in RMS mode , highlight the entire track, execute the Normalize feature in RMS mode which is more of a PERCEIVED LOUDNESS leveler, set the level low, down around -20 DB, this is a very small amount with the purpose to bring up those very low swells. Don't be afraid to use different levels and see what it does to the peak and level, then use UNDO to get back to sanity !
Then add a Compressor / Limiter found in your effects bin. You can select a default then edit it to your liking. Don't forget to SAVE IT with a new name for future use. Here we will reduce the HI peaks which will allow a more even "total level". My numbers are not absolute, they could change with each track. The one referenced here is pretty dramatic, on purpose. Knee at 8, Ratio , 20:1 set hi which allows the compressor to act more like a Limiter, Gain, 3 DB, or so, Threshold 17 to 20 db. As you are listening back with the C/L in place , don't be afraid to make adjustments to the Ratio or Thresholds, make severe adjustments so you can hear whats going on, then come back to something more suitable. The best way to learn what a compressor does is to listen to what its doing, one KNOB at a time.
I use these two actions for the Steel for every track now, the numbers change but the process is the same. It's the end result that matters, your ears. Both of these actions take about 1 minute or less to execute.
Obviously others( Home and Pro's) have other processes they use , this is just one method to tame some of those volume pedal nuances which more than likely are present.
Plus if your DAW has these features embedded, take advantage of them. They are not there to just take up hard drive space !
and of course here is a track with both processes applied.
https://soundcloud.com/rumbleroomaudio/ ... edal-steel
