When should effects be added?

[timandjes]

If you want to use compression on all tracks, is it best to send all of those track to a group channel & apply compression there, or is it best just to apply compression to the master channel?.... Or does it make much difference?

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Well, if you're truely wanting compression across all tracks then it makes more sense to put it on the master channel.

However, this sounds more like a master task, in which case it makes more sense to just work for a good mixdown then perform your mastering tasks on the mixdown file.

Slackmaster 2000