Volume level and return tracks

[Casanova808]

yeah, either turn down the level of the send, or turn down the level of the original channel.

or get rid of other things in the mix to leave headroom for the wet and dry signals.

also, you might want to get into subtractive eq'ing so that the different parts of your mix are sitting in different frequencies.

also, run a hi-pass filter above 200hz on every part that isn't a kick or the bassline.

[Ingemar]

just a kind of "is-the-power-plugged-in" kind of question: are the effects in the return channels set to 100% wet?

[eggnchips]

You on Ableton?
Try setting your channel output to 'sends only' and have a return with the effects and a return for dry signal.
You can then automate the signal to either dry or wet.

OR ensure that the send channel is set to Pre (not Post) so that the audio will still come through the send even if the volume of the track is down. This can be changed above the master out level.

[zeropoint]

if you're on ableton.....then this:

http://sonictransfer.com/mixing-ableton ... ugin.shtml

[Camel]

Put your effects in the return channel on 100% wet and make them 'pre' sends, so that no matter at what volume your channel is, the send input volume is the same.