Mixing tracks to stereo mix?

[Gyrosound]

I'm wanting to transfer my mix down to 2 tracks stereo.

[Peter Widdicombe]

That's the default, for most of us. Not sure what happens if you have, say, a 16-output sound card; but I believe the default output is still stereo?

Now there may be options - aural enhancers and the like, to broaden the effect for key tracks (i.e. vocals), and the output can be panned off-center for certain instruments (i.e. strings/synth one side, horns/drums on the other...)?