audition mixdowns too quiet - help....

Check this out - http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b56d34/18

Mixdown, bounce & export all have their place and in this instance you should probably be using File->Export

>Am I right in saying no-one figured it out?

No, I figured it out - it's just wrong...

The actual answer to your question as to what is happening with the levels is this bit (quoted from my reply):

>If you have the -3dB center option selected, a 0dB mono tone file panned dead center and mixed down to mono will result in a -3dB tone, but if you pan it completely to one side, and mix it down to mono again, it will play back at -6dB. You have no dB addition of the two tracks, and most importantly, you have to remember that it's been through two pan pots before it's outputted - which is why it's 3dB lower than you thought it might be.

Or if you want it in much simpler language, the AA3.0 mixer is configured differently from the AA1.5 mixer, and the levels don't equate. This is because of the additional master output section in AA3.0 having its own panpot. If that wasn't there (and I could make a good case for it not being, I have to say - I don't recall any real mixers having a panpot that applies to the master output!), then the levels would be correct.

> I don't recall any real mixers having a panpot that applies to the master output!

Excellent point

If I use File->Export my levels are fine - if I right click and select 'mixdown' then I just add 3db gain

Same settings as me.

Are you selecting 'master' as your source in File->Export->Audio Mixdown?

If so have you also checked the level of your master volume?

As Steve mentioned above the -3dB panning may give eroneous results depending on how things are panned and mixed. Selecting L/R cut logarithmic puts some of this right but in certain circumstances I belive that it could produce over levels of centrally panned mono material.

-3dB panning means that when there is no panning, everything is 3dB quieter. When you pan something full left or right, then it becomes at normal level. I guess we should say "-3dB centreing".