Ok, have second Sonar project as ready as it's going to be given my newb status.  I'm satisfied with the mix, but want to brighten the whole sound.  Do I now add a final effect or two to the Master Bus and then export?
 
Or do you sum similar tracks in busses and then put an effect like the Vintage Channel in the drum bus, the guitars bus, the vocals bus and so on?
 
 
 
Thanks.

It doesn't matter how you get there as long as you are comfortable in understanding how you got there.

So you can polish on the Master bus or you can go back into the project and prepare it differently.

Realistically, you may end up doing a little bit of both.

best regards,
mike

My way of doing it is mixing down  to stereo track a few different versions inside the project. Then archive all other tracks so no horsepowers are wasted.

Then I "master"  and export these versions and audition them on various systems.

I think this is a really good method for beginners especially, because you can hear the difference of different mixes in different systems, and the effects of different mixing solutions driven througgh the master FX.

"One mix with a fuller low end....terribly boomy in hifi...AHAA! I've overcompensated the lacking low end of my monitors. The mix with less low end...ok...low end works but the master compression has made hi-hat and snare equally loud....etc." You can kill several flies with one exporting session.

Thanks.  I posted the tune in Songs.  Added some Vintage Channel in the busses, got close to what I was after.  Learned a whole lot in the process.

There is no definitive "right way" to do this. What matters is the result. I can only tell you how I do it on the songs I write, record, and produce.

I try to record as clean and strong a track as I can given the instrument. 

I listen to the track and determine if anything (FX) should be applied at the track level. Some tracks, depending on the need, get verb or EQ but generally not much of anything else. 

I will create a sub buss if there are several similar tracks....such as a few guitars, or back ground vocals.  If there are busses, I will generally place the reverb in the buss.  If a vocal track is a stand alone one track only, then I will place any FX needed in that track.

In my master buss, I generally have a low level reverb and Ozone.  Ozone has several modules in it and I use only what I need. EQ and some compression, maybe some widening, but only what is needed. 

The important thing is to understand what these FX are doing, and to learn enough to determine what you need, where and when, and then most importantly..... how much. 

Post your music and learn from the comments. If there is something specific you need to know, ask. For me, one of the most valuable resources in this journey recording music has been the songs forum and the great advice I have gotten there. Most folks here are fair and honest, and not seeking to put you down, but are offering advice to help you improve your skills. If you don't understand something, simply ask for a better explanation.