When it is time to create your stereo mix, is there a preference between bouncing all the tracks to a stereo track within SONAR, then exporting it out, or to do the export of all the master bus or mains, whichever you choose, directly out of SONAR to a wav file?

I always export directly out of my Main Outs.

If this is for a CD then the export will be to a wav @ 16bit, 44,100Hz with dither
If it's for an Mp3 then I'll do the 16 bit as above and use that for Mp3 conversion
If it's a track for my album compiler then it will be a 32bit wav @ 44,100Hz with NO dither

So when you say 'for my album compiler' are you alluding to the fact that this mix will then be mastered? Assumption there partially based on the fact that you are exporting with NO dither, saving dither for the mastering process.

Well, yes, but I have no desire (or money) to get it profesionally mastered, so I'll do it myself - but the concept of what you're saying is spot on.

The 16 bit version does go through a mastering chain (I just toggle the chain on/off prior to exporting)

thanks man.

I don't export directly from the main outs. I bounce the track and then slip edit and use the fade clip feature. I May actually slip edit in a little extra silence depending on how many seconds I want between tracks. I set the outs to be direct from this mixdown track and I apply no fx. I solo the track and listen one last time before exporting it.

To me, the easiest way is to select all the tracks... a few clicks on the track inspector gets that done...

File>Export>audio..... choose your destination.... I select WHAT YOU HEAR...and click OK

It works well. 

Then I trim and do any edits in my wave editor outside of X1.

At that point it's ready to burn or convert to mp3.

I bounce a mix to a a track bypassing master bus effects.
(then cntrl/drag copies of master effects to new track)
If needed, I just drag that wav to my desktop if I'm going to master outside of Sonar.

I like to stay in Sonar mainly to keep organization simpler.

Select all > Export as 24 bit wav.  Make a higher quality Mp3 straight from the 24bit wav.

No idea if this is the "correct" way or not, not technical enough to know the ins and outs, just what I thought I would try and it seems to sound better than making a regular mp3 from a 16 bit wav, but maybe I've just convinced myself of that ?