You need to speak to the mastering engineer to find out what the ME expects. If you're tracks are at 24bit, leave them at 24bit, but yeah, just find out from the ME what is best for him/her.
As for additional processing, why not bring in both versions? There's no harm in bringing in multiple mixes and going through them with the ME.
Alot of the time, if your tracks are well mixed, the difference between the non-mastered and mastered versions are very slight. Overall loudness, and some fine tuning to make the mixes translate onto other systems.
I've only been through the process twice, both with mid-level ME's, and I think next time I'll really go to town and book in with one of the top guys. It really is a great experience hearing your track being played through a pair of $20k monitors in a $100k treated room.
Be sure to speak up if you're hearing something you dont like.
Have fun mate!
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MYSPACE
G5, Cubase SX, Reason 2.5, Acess Virus RackXL, Yamaha Motif Rack, Yamaha CS-10, Roland D-50, Korg X5D, Korg Electribe ER-1mkII, HALion VST Sampler, MOTU 2408mkIII, Studer 169, Roland JUNO 60
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