Surround mixing in Soundscape
The Soundscape Mixer
In the Soundscape Mixer, mixer strips can be created in a number of configurations to handle mono, stereo or multichannel signals. For surround mixing, four configurations are available for mixer strip output elements:
- Mono to LRCS
- Mono to 5.1
- Stereo to LRCS
- Stereo to 5.1
The mixer shown below is an example of a very simple 5.1 mixing configuration (the same principles apply for a huge mixer).
The mixer strip in column 1 is used to send a mono signal to a 5.1 mix. The output element for that column is "Mono to 5.1".
The mixer strip in column 2 is used to send a stereo signal to a 5.1 mix. The output element for that column is "Stereo to 5.1".
The output for both columns is assigned to BUS 1-6, so that the mono signal from Track 1 and the stereo signal from tracks 3/4 are routed to the mixer strip in column 3, whose input is assigned to BUS 1-6.
The mixer strip in column 3 is multichannel (6 channels). In this example its output element is assigned toTDIF outputs 1-6, allowing the 6 surrond channels (L, C, R, Ls, Rs and LFE) to be recorded to a DTRS machine. Its output element provides 6 channel metering as well as a master volume control.
Double-clicking the output element of the mixer strips in columns 1 and 2 opens the corresponding Surround Panner window. The stereo to 5.1 surround panner window is shown here:
The signal can be placed in the soundfield by dragging the white and red dots, respectively representing the left and right input signals, with the left and right mouse buttons. The L<->R buttons allow each signal to mirror the placement of the other relative to a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line in the middle of the soundfield. The signals can also be placed using the X and Y sliders. There are dedicated faders for front, rear and F/R divergence and LFE channel volume. The Center fader allow the center sound to be spread between the left and right speakers (with less sound reaching the center speaker). Clicking a speaker icon mutes/unmutes the corresponding output channel.
The LCRS surround panner layout is similar to the 5.1 surround panner, except that the LFE fader is not available.
Dolby encoding and decoding
A Dolby Surround Encoder, Decoder and Pink Noise Generator plug-in bundle is available for Soundscape, for LCRS encoding/decoding.
Please see the Surround plug-in product page for details.
The example below shows a pair of mixer strips configured for Dolby encoding/decoding:
A send element in the first mixer strip sends the stereo signal to the second channel via buses 5 and 6 for decoding.
The six tracks of a 5.1 surround mix can be exported to the host PC for stereo encoding. Minnetonka distributes a range of products for these applications. Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS and AC3 are supported. Please see the Minnetonka website for details.
For user feedback on surround mixing in Soundscape, you can read Steve Marshall's interview on this website. Steve was also interviewed by Sound On Sound, Europe's best selling production magazine, about the making of his album "Bilocation".
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