Guys I have a problem. So I have a track done and getting my mix to sound as good as I can get it to be. and I'm using reference tracks to know how my track really should sound.
So when gain staging at first I do it so that the loudest part of my song is at -6db more or less. So I get a reference track and place it so that its volume is also at -6 db so I can compare it at the same volumes.
The thing is when I start making adjustments to my track so it matches my reference track I always find myself in a position that when it sounds the same as my reference track the overall volume of my mix is at -6 db, but I have some peaks that reach almost -3 db!
Obviously the reference track is mastered and has a limiter and nothing crosses -6 dbs, but I can't get my mix to sound the same without getting those peaks out of the way. I tried placing a limiter, but it just kills the mix.... I don't know what to do