Matching and balancing the levels between tracks requires the trained ear of a veteran recording engineer, who can discern between peak level, volume units (average loudness) and apparent loudness (associated with EQ and compression).

Once each of your tracks are tweaked to bring out their inherent qualities, they are cross-monitored and adjusted within a tenth of a db to fit the overall level of the album.

"Normalizing" is typically avoided except in cases where a "hot" track approaches possible digital clipping. In this case, the function serves to actually lower the noise floor even further by dropping the peak slightly (and inaudibly), while ensuring a smooth burn to the master disc.