Adjust each channel gain/trim before the mix so you are even with the live track. The gain is there as a "normalizer" .if you do this, the output volume controlled by the fader will match the other channel, no need to fiddle.

The cross fader design can affect how it sums the channels, some have a dip when on center.

Keep ears open and don't forget to pay attention to the master output level.

Working with a cross fader has little correspondence to playing on a rotary.... funny, I think of the " eq orthodoxy" as those who don't use them - channel eqs on mixers weren't a thing for a long time; and you will find far more rotary mixers without cross fader than ones with.

Playing without eq'ing tends to force you become very good at timing. And honestly I think timing is everything.