Dialog Bus in a 5.1 Mix - Mono, 5.0, 5.1?

[ryst]

Hello everyone,

I read on these forums that some people just have a mono dialog bus in their 5.1 mixes. I've also read where other people have a 5.0 or 5.1 dialog bus.

I assume if you're routing your dialog to a mono dialog bus that all your verbs are mono too? I generally route all my dialog verbs to the dialog bus.

Is there an advantage to having a mono dialog bus as opposed to a 5.0/5.1 bus? Or is it just personal preference?

Thanks!

[SonicSloth]

You'll get a lot of varied replies on this one. It's partially a taste thing. A mono DX bus will save a little bit of processing power, but I'm not sure it's all that necessary these days, and I'll be easier to pan dialogue when you need to (although that is certainly rare-ish). No point in having a 5.1 DX bus though, 5.0 is all you'll ever need. Chances are if you ever feel the need to put dialogue in the LFE, there will be a VERY specific reason and you'll probably create a bespoke template for that mix.

For verbs, I find that mono dialogue verb does sound best when you're just using it to match lines and tone, but a 5.0 reverb is great to have if you're using it to create a sense of massive space, like a character shouting in an empty church, etc. But again, this can all be chalked up to taste.

[EarHole]

I just use a 5.1 Bus for consistency. Certainly not needed.

[Led]

I always thought 5.0 was all I needed for a DX bus, but then Dune..

[audiolex1]

Originally Posted by SonicSloth

You'll get a lot of varied replies on this one. It's partially a taste thing. A mono DX bus will save a little bit of processing power, but I'm not sure it's all that necessary these days, and I'll be easier to pan dialogue when you need to (although that is certainly rare-ish). No point in having a 5.1 DX bus though, 5.0 is all you'll ever need. Chances are if you ever feel the need to put dialogue in the LFE, there will be a VERY specific reason and you'll probably create a bespoke template for that mix.

For verbs, I find that mono dialogue verb does sound best when you're just using it to match lines and tone, but a 5.0 reverb is great to have if you're using it to create a sense of massive space, like a character shouting in an empty church, etc. But again, this can all be chalked up to taste.

Multiple mono verbs on hand. And some stereo and a 5.0 for different sorts of environments when you want a complete 360, but sometimes its too much when you just want to feel the size in the back or sides.

5.1 bus nowadays is just easier to setup with everything. Run across an underwater scene it gives some thickness.
But its a rarity.

[Brandonx1]

I just make the widest delivery dial stem. If a network asks for 5.1 dial stem, that's the dial bus I make. Even if it's only coming from the center channel.

[kosmokrator]

Originally Posted by Brandonx1

I just make the widest delivery dial stem. If a network asks for 5.1 dial stem, that's the dial bus I make. Even if it's only coming from the center channel.

this.

[yazoo]

Never figured out Master Link button.

If you have a 5.1 channel and change the channel selector to center and have Master Link enable does this mean that the C is the key source and the rest of the channels follow that level (if you have a compressor on the channel)?

All the best
Benny

[its2loud]

You have to unlink the channels in the plugin. Otherwise all the channels of the plugin will follow the same settings. Selecting the channel view only shows you the settings for that channel of the plugin.

[Tone_Mechanic]

Originally Posted by yazoo

Never figured out Master Link button.

If you have a 5.1 channel and change the channel selector to center and have Master Link enable does this mean that the C is the key source and the rest of the channels follow that level (if you have a compressor on the channel)?

All the best
Benny

If you are using a multi-mono instance of the plug-in, then they do not share sidechain key sources. The master Link button allows you to gang the controls so that the settings are the same on all channels, but it operates like six mono compressors that all have unlinked sidechains.

In other words, in a multi mono instance of the plug-in, level changes on the C channel will not cause compression to occur on the L or R or any other channel.