Regarding Vegas pro 17

1. when i open the audio track FX, i have automatic inclusion of track noise gate, track EQ and track compressor; this normal? (all seem to be disabled)

2. regarding track compressor - I would think that the audio track volume slider would affect the amplitude of the audio going into the compressor; so that if i reduce the volume of the track via the slide, then the peaks woudl be lower and the compressor would not kick in at all. but it seem this is not the case. Is there a way to have the volume slide on the audio track affect the level going into the compressor

(what i am trying to accomplish - i have multiple singers at different levels. I want to level adjust each singer via the volume slider and the apply a compressor to each voice)

thanks!