For quite a few years now, I've seen a lot of elaborate color correction tutorials or methods using two tracks of video, that is, duplicating a track and laying it over itself, then activating a compositing mode on the top track, and possibly some additional steps. Every time I messed with it, always found the results less than stellar.

I've always used one track, and added a few effects to it, and been happy. I guess I'm wondering if I'm missing out. Are there things (speaking of color correction) you can't accomplish using a single track and varous effects, that have to be done with two tracks and compositing?

I guess the NLE isn't really relevant, but I'm using FCP now, though I've used Vegas in the past.

The two track method allows for effects that are generally unachievable with just a one track method, like blowing out JUST highlights and adding a beautiful soft warm glow but leaving the rest or the image completely "in focus".

If one track is working for you, keep at it. If you're trying to achieve a look and can't with one track, start duplicating...

Ok, see, here's a for instance. . .couldn't you isolate the highlights with a secondary color corrector mask, and then tweak them? Or maybe the glow effect (in Vegas, this worked--it only found the highlights), haven't tried it in FCP yet)