Editing and mixing I do in Reaper...I used to do the same in Cakewalk ProAudio 9.3.
Audacity is way to clunky for me.
I like to render a final mix to 24bit prior to sending it to an M.E.
I don't master myself - haven't the ears for it.
Exporting your mix from your DAW is a good thing but into Audacity - nah.

Export the final mix at high quality & rate then import it into a simplified editing/mastering project/template within the same DAW to finish it as best your plugins & ears can manage.

Occasionally I do a faux master when collaborating so we can assess the likely impact of mastering on things like reverb.
I have that set up as a template with the expected stacked limiters n EQs ready to click as/if needed remembering that mastering is only doing small touches and only if needed. If it takes a stack of plugins and such then the mix isn't right yet.

Last edited by rayc; 02/17/22 09:24 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe