Mixing/Mastering problem in DP 4.5 ... Plz help!

[Obscure Object]

Hello everybody,

I use DP 4.5 and Traveler firewire audio interface (amongst other software and hardware) with a G5 power mac ... here's my problem: i always end up getting low mixes! ... while i'm mixing inside DP the volumes of the tracks i'm monitoring are high n ok ... i dun even tend to mix at very high volumes ... however, once i export the mix into any kind of format (i've tried lame .mp3, .wav, interleaved files, and every other kind of export DP 4.5 offers) the volume of the mix drops dramatically! (using same monitoring system) ... the mix itself doesn't change; all automation, panning and track volumes stay the same, but the overall volume of the mix drops to the point that - listening to the mixed file on my hard - i may have to turn my monitors all the way up! ... strangely enough, if i listen to the mixed track from within DP the volume is as high as i hear while i'm mixing (before exporting to the hard) ... burning my final mixes into audio naturaly i find the volume of the tracks a lot lower than any other cd i own ... i burn the cds simply using itunes.
along time ago i used to use some primitive cakewalk recording software on pc n i never had this kind of problem. However, i wouldn't say i'm that experienced when it comes to mastering.
is this an issue of recording, mixing, or mastering? i've tried to trouble shoot thru all stages, but no use ... Does anybody have any idea how to fix this problem?

[tonio]

It could be a recording and mixing problem. If not it would definately be a maserting issue.
Now if you are trying to compare with the commercial stuff that is compressed to hell with no dynamics...furgadaboutit.

What are your RMS levels and peaks at MWLimiter?
Try to make the RMS level about -15~12dbs. Maybe a tad more for real heavey metal stuff. What are you tracking @? 24bit/44.kzh?

T