Aux input vs Master fader

[taylor4814]

Trying to understand issues with mixing in Pro Tools -

An engineer mixing my record recently was explaining a preference for using Aux input(s) instead of a Master fader as the master stereo mix... I understand that the inserts on a Master fader in Pro Tools are post fader (I think, because of the need for dithering?); is this a common practice? Are there other reasons?

[bassmac]

I do it - as do many others here.

I was told by a Digi guru the HD aux buss has the same precision and headroom as the master fader.

It's also handy to adjust the master fader for monitoring without affecting any plugins you might have on your "master" aux.

The only thing I put on the master is the pow dither for final bouncing.

[trelobas]

Indeed you can see this practice on the demo session that lives on the installer cd that pro tools ships.. An AUX Master and master fader for dither. Seems resonable the way Bassmac explaned it.

D.