outputs vs sends for mixing down within pro tools

[roark]

i have been playing around with mixing down within pro tools before bouncing to disk and i was wondering if it was more preferable for any reason to do that with outputs or sends and if there would be any difference in the end result

scenario 1:
1. create and record enable a stereo track with a stereo bus input (bus 7-8 for example)
2. change the output of all the tracks pointing to standard out 1-2 to bus 7-8
3. record

scenario 2:
1. create, record enable and mute a stereo track with a stereo bus input (bus 7-8 for example)
2. add sends: bus 7-8 to all tracks that are also outputting to standard out 1-2
3. record

[anothercolour]

Originally Posted by roark

scenario 1:
1. create and record enable a stereo track with a stereo bus input (bus 7-8 for example)
2. change the output of all the tracks pointing to standard out 1-2 to bus 7-8
3. record

scenario 2:
1. create, record enable and mute a stereo track with a stereo bus input (bus 7-8 for example)
2. add sends: bus 7-8 to all tracks that are also outputting to standard out 1-2
3. record

If you use scenario 2, be sure all the sends are set post fader or the mixdown will be different. For this reason, I use scenario 1, but both methods would produce the same results.
You can check situations like this by mixing down using both methods and inverting the phase of one mix to see if they null to silence.