Mixing through compressor and/or tape saturator question.

[cron]

Just a question. I was always told not to mix into a compressor. If you have a 3rd party master your work for you how does this affect their job even though you turn off the compressor before rendering? I'm guessing an experienced Mastering Engineer can tell if it's been mixed through a compressor and does it affect how they do their job in a negative way?

I'd personally say it's all about the vision. If you're making something that you want to sound heavily compressed, or you're making something where compression (or anything else) on the master is an artistic choice, do it. You can't expect the mastering engineer to make artistic choices for you, or you have to REALLY trust him or her if you do. Just make your tracks the way that you want them to sound. Mastering engineers are there to apply the finishing sheen. Not to make your totally uncompressed dance track slam the way you want it to sound in your head. So I guess I'd say that if your master processing is artistic, leave it there, but let the mastering engineer apply any master processing you'd consider corrective and any 'enhancement' processing that isn't integral to your musical ideas.