Funny^^^
On the fade......
As earlier stated, I've always done my fades pre-mastering. I don't know if working in the analog domain changes anything, but that's how I've always done it. When it went to mastering I've never noticed any adverse effects by fading in the mix. It always just came back sounding better.
The only mastering things I've noticed being non optimum is reverb becoming less subtle. So, in anticiptaion, I'd put less reverb in the mix.
Now that I'm working with PT, I'm rethinking this subject.
So far I've not had anything I mixed in the digital domain mastered. I have no idea how mastering would help or hurt my projects.
But, responses here have gotten me rethinking everything.