Don't forget that there is opportunity to add gain to the stereo bus signal. You can do this on the screens that show the signal chain of the individual inputs/tracks and buses. On the individual tracks and inputs you can cut gain only, but on the stereo channel you can add and cut. very handy at times - maybe when you have mix that is working for you, but the gain is getting pushed as you build. A cut allows you to avoid tampering with your mix levels. On the other hand, if you can develop the good habit of building and mixing to a conservative level, the add capacity on the stereo bus lets you push a mix a bit harder -- perhaps into a compressor/limiter for final mixdown.
As for adding identical signals within a mix - I do that often. Especially with a lead vocal if it is just not sitting well enough in the mix. Additionally, you can thicken a track by altering the identical tracks so they chorus a bit. you can add 2 or 3 ms to the secondary tracks. Or you can detune up and or down a few cents on the secondary tracks to thicken things up. I often leave the primary vocal centered and fairly dry, then place two "identical" tracks (altered as suggested above) on a stereo pair - then I pan these hard LR. this pair then gets some individual treatment using EQ and DYN and REverb and with some listening a decision is made about how much of this be allowed to sit under the "primary" (centered and dry) vocal track.
_________________ Byron
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