One more thing, FWIW, I mix completely "in the box". I do that because it's much simpler to save an entire setup (fader levels, panning, effects, automation — EVERYTHING!) and to reload it later and start exactly where I left off. You can save various approaches in their entirety with multiple project saves. Conversely, if you mix in the DM and use some of its effects, EQ, compression, etc., then you also need to save its settings and coordinate loading them as well as your song from the DAW when you want to come back to the mix at a later time. That's not a huge deal, just extra work, even keeping track of the fact that this song has both components. By always doing everything in the box, I never need more than the project in the DAW. This is something to think about as you consider which way you want to ultimately go. Perhaps others will weigh in on their preference and why.
However, I do really like the TC Electronic reverb in the DM, so I will sometimes use that. But when I do, I print it to a separate track (or tracks, if stereo); that way, I still have everything in the box. Of course, I'll keep the dry sound in case I want to re-mix later, but usually never go back to it.
Finally, for all of the options the foregoing provide, I find myself more and more committing tracks earlier in the process. I'll save all the options to a project archive, but the final has committed tracks and "printed" effects. I do this because, at some point, we need to commit, finish the song, and move on. Otherwise, each song is never finished and I was finding myself working too long on the same songs. As Da Vinci said: "Art is never finished, only abandoned."
However, I do really like the TC Electronic reverb in the DM, so I will sometimes use that. But when I do, I print it to a separate track (or tracks, if stereo); that way, I still have everything in the box. Of course, I'll keep the dry sound in case I want to re-mix later, but usually never go back to it.
Finally, for all of the options the foregoing provide, I find myself more and more committing tracks earlier in the process. I'll save all the options to a project archive, but the final has committed tracks and "printed" effects. I do this because, at some point, we need to commit, finish the song, and move on. Otherwise, each song is never finished and I was finding myself working too long on the same songs. As Da Vinci said: "Art is never finished, only abandoned."
