Experimenting with 5.1

[OntheHill]

Using the Control 24, and ProTools 5.1..I was wondering what is the typical workflow for creating a 5.1 and stereo mix ? Do you mix for stereo first ? Can you assign tracks to got to 5.1 and stereo and mix both at the same time ?

[ekuehnl]

Well, I don't know how most people are doing it, but PT is capable of doing 5.1 and stereo at the same time. If you give a track both output destinations the panning for the 5.1 path will be "intelligently" applied to the stereo output path as well.

Oh, the way you assign multiple output paths is by holding down the key.

[tonygoodall]

I'll try that

Since my main objective is stereo, but I wanted to play around with 5.1, I've put a 5.1 send on each channel, and kept the original stereo mix separate on the pan pots.

After a little experimentation, I think that it's probably best to do each mix separately: since I can't see auto-mixdown coming up with the right balance. To get a good 5.1 mix from the good stereo mix, I had to tweak quite a few send levels

So I'm currently mixing to 2 master faders: one stereo, one 5.1.
stereo from output on channel,
5.1 from send on channel

I've had to rethink a few reverb ideas:
at present I'm trying putting the reverb L/R into the 5.1 mix halfway from front to back down each side. Any other ideas????

BTW Do the subwoofer levels work out right on the auto stereo mix down?

[tonygoodall]

control click select didn't work for me for multiple output path

[georgia]

If your going to mix for 5.1 create stems for film or create a set of busses for music. IE:
creating a set of tracks for 5.1 might include the following ( or maybe not - each to their own) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Create a 5.1 master out
Create an AUX OUT 5.1 track for SFX pointing to the 5.1 master track
Create an AUX OUT 5.1 track for DIAG pointing to the 5.1 master track
Create an AUX OUT 5.1 track for MUSIC pointning to the 5.1 master track
Within the SFX Stem - all tracks point to a 5.1 SFX AUX and assoicated sub-busses
1. a few stereo tracks with a 5.1 output
2. a few mom tracks with a 5.1 output
3. a few stereo tracks with a L/R output within the 5.1 outputs
4. a few stereo tracks with the Ls/Rs outputs within the 5.1 ooutput
5. a couple of mono tracks pointing to the CTR buss
6. a couple of mono tracks pointing to the LFE buss
Within the MUSIC Stem you can create the same sort of thing as required
Within the Diaglogue Stem repeat once more.

edit/mix to taste.

This allows you mix for descrete 5.1 down mixing is usually handled outside protools. But you could set up a Stereo bus or re-mix the session with all the 5.1 pans set to L and/or R as required. Just watch the phase issues during a 5.1 downmix.

during you rmix try automating the pans of your reverb send to tail off in the rears for example.
Or, create a couple of reverbs, one for the front, one for the rears and offset the rear reverb return by a few milliseconds/ or purt some pre-delay in the rear reverb....
cheers

georgia