Thanks for your comments. I am guessing the you think the music needs to be louder. I didn't want it to overwhelm the nat sounds. By compressing it I would assume I would get a fuller volume but still have the illusion of the dynamics of the notes. Some are quieter by design and some are just bad strumming. Would you raise the nats as well and should I compress them? Thanks again.

Fortunately, I am not planning nor needing to make money. Just a creative outlet.

I think the music needs to be compressed 2:1 (very modest) and loudness set to best practice standards for either internet or broadcast, whichever you intend. Broadcast will definitely sound softer. These are fixed standards.

We are discussing Dynamic Range Compression, meaning "How much difference between the softest and loudest passages in the music?" Volume is an entirely separate consideration.

I can show you if you will upload an original audio source, not processed by Youtube.

US broadcast standard (ATSC A85) is -23 LUFS, and just a speck softer than EUB R128 (-24 LKFS). Internet "reference" is the Apple iTunes standard, almost exactly 6dB louder than ATSC.

We know internet loudness is all over the place. But it is especially important if your beautiful guitar work is ever to be broadcast. My suggestion is for folks whose hearing may not process full dynamic range as well as you kiddos. It's a moving target.

https://blog.frame.io/2017/08/09/audio-spec-sheet/

Would you need the separate tracks or a mix? I would love to see hear what you do. Audio mixing is not my specialty.

Just your final mix, wav or FLAC.

Awesome video and great playing! - and I agree with @Musicvid that just a light compression on the guitar part will level things out nicely for a smoother presentation. At 2:1 it shouldn't destroy the dynamics though, so they'll still be in there, and the limiter at broadcast standards should just level it off at a consistent "full" volume (whilst retaining the dynamics in the playing).

Stylistically, you may also want to EQ the nature sounds and guitar parts around each other (e.g. slightly cut the nature sounds in the frequency range of the guitar) so the guitar comes through with a little more clarity, but it's by no means wrong as it is, and as I say it would just be my stylistic choice (and we're all different in our music!) that said, the way you have it currently it all folds together which may actually be more suitable for relaxation sounds... so perhaps ignore that last comment! 😂

What's the pedal? Sounds like a compressor (for those long tails) and a subtle chorus, tremolo or uni-vibe type effect for the modulation...

jrb101, thanks for your comments. I am going to send Musicvid a wav file (soon I hope) and see what he has in mind. I have spent my career editing video but usually had a crew that did audio.
The pedal is the new Zoom G1X Four. It is a very affordable effx pedal with an expression pedal and many programmed effx as well as allowing a lot of customization. I am still learning it but thought this would be a chance to try effx you might not ordinarily use. I will look at the setting and let you know what particular effx were layered to create this one.

Thanks again for viewing and your comments.

Musicvid, dropbox has changed some things so let me know if you can access this. If not, I will get it to you some other way.

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Public?preview=Calm+After+the+Storm.wav

I know, they sure made a mess of things. it says folder "Public" does not exist, although it exists on mine. Grazie was able to create a Shared folder that both of us can access and edit. I don't see a user account on your link.

Okay, I will just play with the compression myself. Thanks for the offer.

I recorded your audio from youtube and leveled it about the way I would have submitted it without the benefit of separate tracks.

Download here.

Look at it in Vegas with the Loudness meters. I didn't completely tame the pick. 

Thanks John. I will put your waveform up against my tracks and see if I can match it using compression. Thanks for the view and your help.

Okay, I am probably to sound stupid, but it seems to me that the compression only increases the background nats, which become overwhelming. What is the point of the compression?

I know your primary interest is the guitar, but to me, it seems the water sounds and other ambient sounds are a major part of the experience.

The weather was finally nice and I am social distancing so I made another peaceful video. A few things I am not happy with, but I hope you enjoy it.

Flowers, Tree, and a Bee

I know the phrase has been used, but "awesome blossoms!"

Will get to the music tomorrow, but I think you've got it nailed.

thanks for watching, your comments are always welcomed.

I tend to agree with @john_dennis

It sounds like the music and ambient audio are approximately the same volume.

You could duck the guitar a little as j_d suggests.

No criticism, just things to try. Your treatment is unique, and provocative.

John Dennis was reacting to the video I posted previously I believe. I was trying something with the guitar, it may not have worked. I wanted to get the feeling it was music reflecting off the side of a garage or house. Like a party a few doors down. I don't know, probably overthinking. I will play with the mix a bit more. Thanks again for your feedback.

Yes, I was actually thinking about the first one. The ambient on the second one is not as interesting to me, so maybe that could be de-emphasized.

But follow your own instinct and take advice with a grain of salt. There are several channels on Pluto, etc. that are worth listening to for mixing ideas.

Hey Dot.....can we catch the original video from 2019 somewhere?

thank you........robert

@rstrong  Here is the link. Your feedback is welcome.

Dot.....great videos, and good job playing the guitar, it sure set the right mood for me. Thanks again.

robert