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Meters just barely twitching is usually enough for me, or no compression at all. It makes a pretty noticeable difference to my ears even when it's just half a db on the meters, no matter if it's a Vari-Mu, a Smart C2, or whatever. Not often that I compress the master bus with the Zener, but with it I don't end up with the meters even moving, it's compressing plenty before they start to.
Occasionally I'll hit things harder but then I feel like I have to EQ the back end too much because the compressor is sucking too much out (esp. the low end), no matter what compressor I end up using. HPF in the sidechain helps, but even so.
I mix into the compressor if I use one.
I don't agree with waiting for the the ME to do it, I'd rather compress myself and have him compress it only if it actually helps the mix. Brickwall limiting or clipping is the ME's realm for sure of course though.
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