I never understood especially now in this time why people do so much to get a track sonics to sound good.
Compression l stopped using it. No need for it from where l stand. I remember a pro saying compression is the worse thing made and he doesn't use it. My point for my track is to give a person a wonderful experience when they hear my music and no distortion.
1. I gain stage
2. Make sure my kick and bass coexist in the same space.
3. EQ
4. MIX
5. And bussing. This technique glues the track together beautifully.
6. Effects
I barely use automation. In the quiet parts of the track l go to the Event/Clup and decrease the volume to my liking. I have seen mix engineers use the faders for automation and use the gain sliders to actually mix. Dealing with the bass ducking the kick Waves hass the bass rider.
l didn't want to get into that. Now l have developed a way it saved me money and time. I have studied Chris Lord Algie, Bob Powers and Mike Pensada's techniques just to understand EQing.
I already have a template to make tracks and have all l need in the 8 effect sends. Thats why l love Reason's SSL mixer.
Im efficient and quick, its to easy lol