SeventhKnight
Newbie
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 6
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| Surround Sound Question! |
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On my final mix before I send it to an ME (I don't have Wavelab but I am equing my master bus along with a slight stereo spread and a mastering compressor plugin just to check the level. I also use a plugin to check my RMS levels.) as far as surround is concerned, should I even use it? I know I can use the mix 6x2 but I really don't see a need to do it. However, I've had people say that it's what I should do. Should I do that or have the ME do it or is surround really just for movies only?
Shalom
Seventh |
Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:10 am |
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conquistadore
Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 513
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It's always a good idea to give a mix without any processing done on the master bus to the Mastering Engineer. While it may be easy to recreate what you have in mind, it can be quite impossible to undo something thats done. It can help though if you give the ME a separate mix down with the processing you have in mind.
And I'm a little confused here, is your mix in surround but for stereo use or is it a stereo or surround mix by itself?  |
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Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:41 pm |
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SeventhKnight
Newbie
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 6
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| Well... |
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It's only in stereo. I used a stereo plugin to spread out the sound but I haven't added any surround effects at all. I figured if I needed to do, lets say, a 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 surrond mix I'd leave that to the ME.
Here's my myspace page: www.myspace.com/sevsem
Check out "Gametime" and "Kruze Kontrol."
Let me know what you think. These are in MP3 format of 192k
Thanks
Seventh |
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Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:36 pm |
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conquistadore
Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 513
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I'm still a bit confused 
Have you done a stereo mix in a surround setup or have you done a stereo mix and expect the mastering engineer to 'covert' it into a surround mix? |
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Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:18 pm |
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SeventhKnight
Newbie
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
Posts: 6
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| My Bad.... |
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Choice B: I've done a stereo mix and expect the mastering engineer to 'covert' it into a surround mix. Is that possible and should it be done?
I hope that helps. I have my equipment list in my signature but it's not showing up.
Thanks again!
Seventh |
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Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:18 pm |
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Calipso
Family Friend
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 154
Location: N.Ireland |
Well I am presuming that, that is completely impossible. Its mixed for stereo, and it would be impossible to "convert" it to surround sound. I am presuming u need to record a master surround track with like 4 channels or whatever. I am not sure
And that is why I am butting in here and hopeing conquistadore will answer my question, as I really have no idea how surround sound works. How does it work for film etc? Always wondered!  |
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Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:19 pm |
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conquistadore
Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 513
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| Surround |
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Yes, it is quite impossibe to convert a true stereo (two track) mix into a surround mix.
As far as surround is concerned, the mix (at the mix stage) needs to happen on discrete channels (the number of channels depending on the surround format).
There have been quite a few surround formats that have come up over the years and only few have survived. Some of the more common formats today:
Dolby Digital - 5.1 (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround and the LFE (the sub woofer)
DTS - 5.1 (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround and the LFE )
Dolby Digital EX - 6.1/7.1 (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround, LFE and Center surround or two center surround channels)
DTS ES - 6.1 (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround, LFE and Center surround)
SDDS - 7.1 (Left, Center, Right, Left Center, Right Center, Left Surround, Right Surround, LFE and Center surround)
When a surround mix happens, the format is predetermined. Usually mixes happen on 6.1/7.1 and are then "down mixed" to 5.1 either manually or using dedicated hardware/software.
The work method is similar to stereo - in the sense that elements of the mix can be placed around the sound field by using a surround panner (if you own Cubase/Pro Tools/Logic or any of the major DAWs open up a surround track and have a look at the panner). But the approach to a surround mix is very different. Generally more EQ and compression happens in a stereo mix - because theres a fight between elements for a place in a smaller sound field. In a surround mix its easier to separate out elements but its also very easy to confuse the listener if there's too much movement.
For more info do post or take a look at the Dolby and DTS website - some very good info there. |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:21 pm |
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