I need to read the db level at a specific point in the recording

[Trebor]

@haughtonomous

When recording a mono tape in a stereo track, one channel is clearly slightly louder than the other. How do I balance them so the playback is dead centre?

For Audcaity2 you’ll need a plugin called RMS Normalize …

RMS Normalize

This plug-in is similar to Audacity’s Normalize effect, except that rather than amplifying to a specified peak level, it amplifies to a specified RMS level. RMS is the abbreviation for “Root Mean Square” and is a kind of average sound level. The RMS level (colored lighter blue in Audacity) is generally a better estimate of “loudness” than peak level (there is no absolute measure for “loudness” as what is loud for one person may not be loud for another - loudness is subjective). Controls: Ta…

[ Audacity3 has it built-in : Loudness normalization]

Could correct by eye with the envelope tool …

but the RMS Normalize tool is more accurate.