diff --git a/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts b/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
index 3399a80..ba41797 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
+++ b/lib/hooks/useMultiTrackPlayer.ts
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
       const panNode = audioContext.createStereoPanner();
       const analyserNode = audioContext.createAnalyser();
       analyserNode.fftSize = 256;
-      analyserNode.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.3;
+      analyserNode.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.8;
 
       // Set gain based on track volume and solo/mute state
       const trackGain = getTrackGain(track, tracks);
@@ -161,8 +161,10 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
       // Set pan
       panNode.pan.setValueAtTime(track.pan, audioContext.currentTime);
 
-      // Connect: source -> gain -> pan -> effects -> analyser -> master gain -> destination
-      source.connect(gainNode);
+      // Connect: source -> analyser -> gain -> pan -> effects -> master gain -> destination
+      // Analyser is before gain so it shows raw audio levels independent of volume fader
+      source.connect(analyserNode);
+      analyserNode.connect(gainNode);
       gainNode.connect(panNode);
 
       // Apply effect chain
@@ -173,9 +175,8 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
       console.log('[MultiTrackPlayer] Effects:', track.effectChain.effects);
       const { outputNode, effectNodes } = applyEffectChain(audioContext, panNode, track.effectChain);
 
-      // Insert analyser after effects, before master gain
-      outputNode.connect(analyserNode);
-      analyserNode.connect(masterGain);
+      // Connect to master gain
+      outputNode.connect(masterGain);
       console.log('[MultiTrackPlayer] Effect output connected with', effectNodes.length, 'effect nodes');
 
       // Start playback from current position
@@ -404,7 +405,7 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
           const panNode = audioContext.createStereoPanner();
           const analyserNode = audioContext.createAnalyser();
           analyserNode.fftSize = 256;
-          analyserNode.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.3;
+          analyserNode.smoothingTimeConstant = 0.8;
 
           // Set gain based on track volume and solo/mute state
           const trackGain = getTrackGain(track, latestTracks);
@@ -413,14 +414,15 @@ export function useMultiTrackPlayer(tracks: Track[], masterVolume: number = 1) {
           // Set pan
           panNode.pan.setValueAtTime(track.pan, audioContext.currentTime);
 
-          // Connect: source -> gain -> pan -> effects -> analyser -> master gain -> destination
-          source.connect(gainNode);
+          // Connect: source -> analyser -> gain -> pan -> effects -> master gain -> destination
+          // Analyser is before gain so it shows raw audio levels independent of volume fader
+          source.connect(analyserNode);
+          analyserNode.connect(gainNode);
           gainNode.connect(panNode);
 
           // Apply effect chain
           const { outputNode, effectNodes } = applyEffectChain(audioContext, panNode, track.effectChain);
-          outputNode.connect(analyserNode);
-          analyserNode.connect(masterGain);
+          outputNode.connect(masterGain);
 
           // Start playback from current position
           source.start(0, pausedAtRef.current);