Metering + Peak Level Question

[contakt321]

Hey guys,

Quick question that I am sure has a reasonable and easy answer.

When I am metering a kick drum on a single channel. The Kick's channel meter reads it's level as -8db
However, when I solo the kick, and check the level on the master channel, it reads the level as -4db

Why would it be read differently?
Which rating would I want to rely on?

FYI:
I am not running it through any effects sends

Thanks in advance for any insight!

[Klauser]

Are you maybe sidechaining the kick to itself or anything? Thats a fairly big dB rise.

[Tarekith]

Track volumes are set to 0dB? You're not using clip volumes? Nothing on the master channel?

[contakt321]

The bass is sidechained w/ the kick as the input - however that shouldn't affect the kick volume (right?).

Track volume is set to -8db, track meter is reading -8db

(sadly sounds like there be a user factor in here)