I have source media that includes a 5.1 surround sound audio. I have done some minor trimming of the content and now want to render from VP18 for use in in DVD-A for eventual burning to Blu-Ray. All the audio render options I am seeing in VP18 are stereo. The project properties are set to 5.1 surround sound. What am I missing?
Thanks in advance.
Of course, you can render 5.1 audio, but by no means is it a one-click -- or even a two or three-click -- process! Oddly enough, your project audio settings do not need to be in 5.1 mode to do this. In fact, the way I render surround audio, it's easier if you leave the project setting in stereo!
It took me quite a while to figure out the following procedure for six audio channels (for 5.1 channels total) that works for me:
Begin by inserting six audio buses into your project: Insert > Audio Bus (X6). Each bus will be automatically assigned letters A through F.
Insert six audio tracks to your timeline: Insert > Audio Track.
Right-click on each audio track header and assign each track to it's own audio bus: Output > Bus [A - F].
Drop your individual audio clip channels onto each appropriate audio track, keeping in mind the final output order:
You may assign as many audio tracks as you wish to each audio bus to mix more than one track per output channel -- but that's getting fancy!
Now it's time to render. You must choose a render format that supports multi-channel audio. Not all of them do. My work primarily uses .xmf for broadcast, which does support multi-channel audio.
Choose a format Template (my favorite "Sony MXF" template is: HD422 1920x1080-60i 50 Mbps).
Under "Render Options" be sure to check "Enable multichannel mapping".
As soon as "Enable multichannel mapping" is chosen a new option labeled "Channels..." will pop up. Click on that new "Channels..." pop-up and you'll see all the audio channel mapping options. To make things as easy as possible I check the "Mono downmix" option for each bus -- but leave all the "Master" options blank -- check ONLY the busses!
In "Customize Template..." go to the "Audio" tab and choose: Channels: 8. Yes -- eight channels! In the broadcast world, the first six audio channels are the 5.1 channels listed above and channels 7-8 are reserved for SAP stereo audio.
You're now cleared to "Render" your project with all the surround channels intact!
@Turd very good tutorial.
@Turd Thanks for the information. The other piece of the puzzle is selecting a render format that is compatibility with DVD-A for authoring the Blu-Ray. When dealing with stereo audio I would render AVC and AC3 out of VP18, which are compatible with DVD-A.
Any thoughts on DVD-A 5.1 compatibility? I tried rendering the audio in Sony64w 5.1-channel (PCM) format (not following you approach), but DVD-A apparently does not recognize this format.
@Turd Thanks for the information. The other piece of the puzzle is selecting a render format that is compatibility with DVD-A for authoring the Blu-Ray. When dealing with stereo audio I would render AVC and AC3 out of VP18, which are compatible with DVD-A.
Any thoughts on DVD-A 5.1 compatibility? I tried rendering the audio in Sony64w 5.1-channel (PCM) format (not following you approach), but DVD-A apparently does not recognize this format.
@rtbond You might have to do some experimenting. Linear PCM is supposed to be Blu-Ray compatible.
Try my method to render a Sony Wave64 > 44,100Mhz, 16 Bit, Mono, PCM (Multiple) file and/or a Wave (Microsoft) > 44,100Mhz, 16 Bit, Mono, PCM (Multiple) file and see if either of those work.
I hate to suggest using an external program and adding another step to finish your process, but if there's no other way, you can always convert your multi-channel wave file to ac3 as a final step:
@Turd I think I will have too as DVD-A will not accept the W64 multi-channel audio file, even when created using the approach you suggested. Unfortunately the WAV to AC-3 converter is a not useful in my case as I cannot produce Microsoft WAV from VP-18 because it states the render will exceed the maximum file size allowed by the WAV format. A never end series if side steps! LOL. Any other suggested converters? Google finds several candidates,
OK, final update (I think). I circled back to VP17, which from reading other threads still included the "Digital Dolby AC-3 Studio". I initially looked here as an option for producing 5.1 Surround AC-3, but still only saw stereo, but then it occurred to me to set the project properties to (Audio tab) "Master bus mode: 5.1 Surround". Once I did this VP17 does show a "5.1 Surround DVD" template for the "Digital Dolby AC-3 Studio" Render As option. DVD-A was then happy consuming this AC-3 file.
WOW, Magix could you make this any more convoluted? (i.e., requiring me to regress one version for functionality needed to render a 5.1 Surround output compatible with DVD-A)? This is a great way to drive long time users (Vegas v4) away.