Well I guess we are here to get new ideas and try new things but this one does not work for me (or has not yet anyway). BUT as I say that I have never had a mix that I have been REALLY happy with and Charles is the man so maybe it is time to try huh??
This is nothing new but I will put a comp on the mix bus (errr... or buss) but I don't print it to tape. The old saying "don't fix it in the mix" is the same to me as "don't master when mixing." Maybe I am just too old school but I want to get the vibe of my mixes from the gel of the tracks and punch it up later. Maybe I don't trust my room or monitors or ears enough but I don't want to paint myself into a corner.
I generally get drums and bass (including stems) happening then pop the 2 buss comp in and mix from there going back and forth between "in" and "bypass." When I have something that I like (again that does not happen very often..
) I will take the comp off and print it to tape.
Yes the mix falls apart but I have faith in the ME that he or she can make it happen again but with better gear then I have. Because it was groov'n with my comp it should groove again with theirs only more so.