Mono stereo recording revisted for S852P

I for one don't understand your question.

To record in mono select a mono port.

There is still no option to make new tracks default to a mono interleave. You can, however, still define a mono track template. There are additional benefits to using track templates, such as also being able to specify routing and effects. I used to grumble about the stereo default, but not since I got into the habit of using templates.

As a general rule, mono tracks are easier to mix and to place in the panorama than stereo tracks. Consequently, stereo tracks should be reserved for true stereo sources only. This idea makes sense with bass, electric guitar and voice. Where you sometimes hit a snag is with synthesizers.

Synthesizer patches are very often stereo, but in many cases the stereo is gratuitous and unnecessary.  I usually bounce them stereo and then take a close look at the waveforms. If the left and right channels look nearly identical, it probably isn't benefiting from being stereo, so I'll re-bounce to mono. If the two channels appear to be quite different, I'll still bounce to mono but then audition it closely with headphones to see if the patch has suffered from being folded to mono.

Occasionally, a patch may not translate well into mono. It's good to listen to it both ways, and if the mono version isn't thin or weird-sounding, go mono with it.

If you do end up using stereo tracks with your soft synths, the Channel Tools plugin is your friend. Use it to pan the track rather than the pan control. It will give your stereo tracks much better definition.

As for saving bounce defaults, I don't know that there is a way to save preferences. IIRC it seems to me that I have to specify them each time. But I'm not at my DAW right now so I can't confirm that.

OK thanks BF and John. I will fool around with the different scenarios. I guess do it and then listen is the best option. If I cannot here something missing, then most likely it's not. This all started for me because I have read many places on the web lately stating that mono is easier to mix and I need all the help I can get. I am getting pretty close to having a song of mine finished so I can post and really find out all Imdid wrong :-)
Thanks Guys
Frank