Author Topic: 5.1 mixing (Read 4968 times)

firmdragon · « **on:** December 18, 2004, 08:41:00 PM »

are there any primers, how tos or tutorials out there? i'm sorta entertaining the idea of doing a 5.1 audio mix of for a dvd of a show that i have multiple sources for. one onstage, sbd and i guess room mic. all are pretty good on their own, i'm just thinking about going "high ball" on this one.

thanks in advance

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2004, 11:44:42 PM »

I just asked the same question. A few responses are here:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=32043.0#msg404908

I ended up mixing both the AUD and SBD sources to the front 3 speakers and only the AUD source to the rear speakers. Just a rough mix to start. I think I might get a little more detailed with one of my own recordings.

What are you using to mix. I am using Wavelab 5. I figured everything out fairly quickly with just a little reading of the Help.

Good luck,
MIKE B

firmdragon · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2004, 11:48:17 PM »

in truth i've never really used wavelab, but i guess i'm willing to try if need be. is this kind of thing possible with cool edit or soundforge, programs i normally use.

Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2004, 12:03:53 AM »

I used Sound Forge first and feel pretty good about it. But Wavelab is WAY better. At least for 5.1. I had everything figured out in a few hours. Unfortunatly I'm not totally sure what I did to get things working. I still haven't figured out how to get it to play things in 5.1 through my soundcard. I have to listen to it in stereo and then burn it to DVD-A and listen to that disc.

Never used Cool Edit Pro, so no idea how that works. I was really happy with Wavelab because it does everything including burning to DVD-A. You can even have it make a DVD-A ISO file so you can distribute it to anyone with a DVD burner and they can then burn a DVD-A with Nero.

PM me if you have any questions. I may not know the answer, but if I do, I'm more than happy to help. It will be nice when 5.1 is more common and I can distribute some surround mixes to the masses. It really sounds great.

MIKE B

SPLASTiK · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2004, 01:35:44 PM »

I've done a couple 5.1 mixes on the Digidesign ProControl at school, not of bootleg stuff though.

heath · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2004, 01:38:11 PM »

Quote from: SPLASTiK on December 20, 2004, 01:35:44 PM

I've done a couple 5.1 mixes on the Digidesign ProControl at school, not of bootleg stuff though.

what school? just curious.

Brian · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2004, 01:57:11 PM »

it's all about "spatial perception". I suggest studying up on this idea as it is crucial to making a good surround mix. i'm currently taking surround sound classes as part of my audio degree. it's quite fascinating.

hope that helps

heath · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2004, 02:00:14 PM »

perceive this space, beeyotch

Brian · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2004, 02:01:01 PM »

also there are two schools of thought in mixing for surround. mixing to give you the feeling of being in the crowd with the band on the stage(most popular because of spatial perception) or mixing as if you are surrounded by the band.

+t Heath for the laugh

heath · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2004, 02:05:54 PM »

Quote from: S_TL-Taper on December 20, 2004, 02:01:01 PM

also there are two schools of thought in mising for surround. mixing to give you the feeling of being in the crowd with the band on the stage(most popular because of spatial perception) or mixing as if you are surrounded by the band.

qft. i enjoy both methods.

this is similar to the standard question in stereo mixing as to whether the drums should be mixed as if you are watching the drummer (hi-hat on right, assuming the drummer is righty) or mix the drums as if you are behind the kit playing (hi-hat on left, assuming again a right handed drummer).

I prefer to mix from the "drummer's perspective" as I am/was a drummer. I know many guys, however, who mix the other way.

h

Brian · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2004, 02:11:50 PM »

i've heard some pretty tasty jazz recordings using the second method. i can't really imagine trying to do that for a rock band though.

i've also heard bluegrass recordings made in a similar way to simulate being around a campfire, pickin' tunes.

redseed · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2004, 05:53:24 PM »

I'm gonna do matrixes with my stealth board tapes and my buddie's audience stealths.
I'll mix those fuckers to 5.1.
Dig.

Brian · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2004, 05:56:06 PM »

Quote from: redseed on December 20, 2004, 05:53:24 PM

I'm gonna do matrixes with my stealth board tapes and my buddie's audience stealths.
I'll mix those fuckers to 5.1.
Dig.

LOL! yeah good luck with that. i'm sure those mixes will be DA BOMB!!!

Tim · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:11:47 PM »

Quote from: S_TL-Taper on December 20, 2004, 02:11:50 PM

i've heard some pretty tasty jazz recordings using the second method. i can't really imagine trying to do that for a rock band though.

i've also heard bluegrass recordings made in a similar way to simulate being around a campfire, pickin' tunes.

isn't the DMB dvd "Listener Supported" mixed in 5.1 with the listener being placed on stage with the band around them? Been a few years since I listened to that but I remember really liking what I heard.

I had an email conversation with Bear Owsley 4 or 5 years ago about all kinds of crazy things, one of which was how he recorded the Old and In The Way album.... 4 omni's in each corner of the stage. Throw that one on sometime with som headphones

Brian · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:18:15 PM »

not sure about listener supported. i haven't wathced that in years. i'll have to check it out. hopefully the listener isn't too close to those hacks on each end of the stage

play that out of tune note, tinsley, like it's going out of style!

Brian · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:18:55 PM »

nevermind.....that was in bad taste. tim if you read it....that was between you and me

Tim · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:47:31 PM »

rofl... yeah, haven't listened to it in years myself.

definitely give old and in the way a good listen sometime....

heath · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:26:09 PM »

Quote from: S_TL-Taper on December 20, 2004, 06:18:55 PM

nevermind.....that was in bad taste. tim if you read it....that was between you and me

damn missed something good....

Tim · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:27:30 PM »

I missed it too! Damn I miss all the good stuff

firmdragon · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2004, 10:57:42 PM »

Quote from: SPLASTiK on December 20, 2004, 01:35:44 PM

I've done a couple 5.1 mixes on the Digidesign ProControl at school, not of bootleg stuff though.

if i can't figure it out i'll give you a shout chaz, right now i'm still in the "thinking about it" stage. man this thread got big fast.

Brian · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2004, 03:31:44 PM »

Quote from: heath on December 20, 2004, 08:26:09 PM

Quote from: S_TL-Taper on December 20, 2004, 06:18:55 PM
nevermind.....that was in bad taste. tim if you read it....that was between you and me

damn missed something good....

it referenced this gem of a thread

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=21490.0

nic · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2004, 04:00:27 PM »

hmm, I never would have thought to mix the drums from the drummers perspective...interesting.
if you mixed that way, wouldnt you also want to mix everything else from the bands perspective, to keep everything in balance?

I try to mix down as if the listener is about 10-15' away from stage in a small club atmosphere, with no 1 instrument panned hard left/right(I hate the over-exaggerated stereo sound).

dklein · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2004, 01:50:42 AM »

Just pick up one of these and multitrack away! It's got a pile of 4060s in it.
http://www.holophone.com/products.html