Total newbie: Mixing/mixdown during writing

[sardaukar]

Nothing wrong, but it can distract over the most important part that is composing.

Also, you may change sounds at some point so you may have to re do eqing and so on.

I also consider it better workflow to finish the arrengement and then mix.

But having reverbs and delays at the sends for playing with some sounds is sstill important for me, but no EQ, compression, distortion, etc during composing.

+1 to this.

[Stromkraft]

I say leave the master alone (no limiter) and turn the channel faders down, aim to peak around -6dBFS or less. Try the mixdown article I linked to earlier, it answers all this and more to get you up and running asap so you can focus on writing, and not digital audio restrictions.

I stopped doing this and started using some kind of master buss compression because I noticed that my carefully set initial levels had to be readjusted quite a lot (well, not bass really) when I added gentle compression at mixdown (even more with Limiter).

When I compose I have this on and off, to not bind myself too much to a certain setting. All settings are gentle, though makes a difference.

Soon I took up always using a drum buss and when I applied gentle compression at that stage my drums improved considerably. Even more with mild saturation.

As I use -18dB RMS as starting point for most tracks and instead increase my monitor volume and as at least one music partner didn't understand this concept I started using a Limiter with gain on the master to give back the volume already at that stage. Typically when I work on my own this is off, but before I share a project I turn it on and listen trough the track, sometime making small adjustments.

A finished track is typically delivered without limiter to the master engineer, but I keep my master buss compressor as I've mixed in to that at mixdown. I don't see how I can do otherwise?

At this point a big part of the final sound I want is dependent also on the master buss. I suppose it's a good idea to also make some tracks as you describe, Tarekith.
To challenge your assumptions, keep and open mind and learn from everyone works for me as a concept.