Only if the mix needs it, but not usally. The ME can do that part if the mix needs it.

I usually do as the acts I record have no intentions of sending anything to a mastering facility.

Yes, I will set up my rough mix and then insert a compressor on the 2-bus. Just a soft 2:1 with a max of 4 dB gain reduction

^^^what comp are you using?

either the waves renaissance comp or the waves SSLComp

I tend to use a little "glue" (although admittedly, I don't mix nearly as often as I used to). Never more than a dB or two... If it needs more than that, I missed something in the mix...

Massive Mastering wrote: If it needs more than that, I missed something in the mix...

that a good point.

I use what ever it takes... whenever it takes it...

Distressors, L2, 160XT's, RNC's... you do whatcha' gotta do to glue a mix. It's fairly rare that I don't use at least a little 2-bus squeeze.

However I should note that the comp is added only when it's time to... which is never at the same point with any two mixes... but it's rarely at any point before "half way" through the process.

And it's not because I didn't miss anything in the mix. It's because the mix is needing it.

Glue

There are no rules here, but I tend to not use any Compression on master bus. The reason for doing so is because I have compression on so many tracks already. You might even try mixing w/ some compression A/B'd on the bus, then turn it off, render it and then send it to master. The best idea is learn about mastering and how it affects your mix. I find there are secrets to be found about knowing how to mix for the ME job. But there are those songs mixed w/ lil or no head room either way. I recommend to mix quieter and decide your headroom before committing to a mix. Those are really important parts of mixing, and the compression of the master will be better w/ different ears by the that point. Just think its gonna get compressed in the final master why limit the dynamics? But on another note: I also do see an advantage to using comp. on master bus for pre-mastering, as long as it sounds good. It might help the song in the end. 8-)

The truth is that there really are no rules.

Whether you strap anything across the 2-bus or not, is usually a matter of the genre' of the music you are mixing.

I do a lot of southern gospel and rock... not strapping a comp on the 2-bus is pretty fatal. Your ME's gonna hate you something fierce if he's the one that's charged with getting your mix entirely under control... and it's gonna cost you even more for his time.

Slap a little light glue on there ahead of time, and things will be a lot less hassle for the ME's job. Now we're not talking about slammin' the life out of it... just enough to tame the extraneous wild hair.