Ableton Forum

Does anyone know a way to normalize tracks on playback? Global compression??

Normalising and compression are quite different things.

Normalising raises the peak value of the audio to whatever the normalise process is set to (often 0dB) and raises the volume of the rest of the audio by the same amount so preserving the dynamic range while making everything louder.

The purpose of compression is very different. It is to reduce the difference between the loudest parts of the audio and the quietist - to reduce the dynamic range. This often results in the audio getting quieter overall (because the peaks are squashed down) which an output gain control on the compressor can be used to compensate for by adding volume. A limiter is a compressor with the added function of providing a “brick wall” over which it will not let the peak volume go.

Is the problem you are having with volume happening while monitoring and recording, while mixing or at the finalising/mastering stage? There are lots of approaches to increasing volume at the master bus but which is appropriate depends on what stage the project is at.