maybe i just don't 4-channel audio...

newmediarules wrote on 11/14/2013, 12:51 AM

from the point of view of a "typical" tv network, what is 4-channel audio? is it two stereo mixes; one with voice, and the other with music & effects? will they accept four seperate mono tracks as an alternative, if correspondingly named? is there a difference btwn 4-ch audio and 4 mono tracks? i'm hoping that the moment i understand the purpose of 4-ch audio, that i will then understand why vegas keeps rendering a 4-channel audio mix that doesn't make sense to me.

Comments

royfphoto wrote on 11/14/2013, 10:52 AM

I deliver to PBS a MXF 50mbps 4.2.2, 4 channel with dialog on 1&2, Music on 3&4. They seem happy with it, they are rather prickly about conforming to the Loudness LKFS ITU-R BS.1773 standard. MFX by nature makes independent channels.

rraud wrote on 11/14/2013, 11:05 AM

Networks and/or clients ofter ask for separate Dialog and M&E (music & effects) tracks. In the 'old 2-trk. days' this was usually called a 'split track' mix. It's best the ask the entity if they prefer multiple mono, stereo or a poly file which would have all embedded.
I normally give a client stem tracks so they can be easily re-configured afterwards if needed.
Typical stem tracks are Dialog (mono); Music (stereo); and S/FX (stereo). Non-encoded 5:1 tracks are an options as well.

riredale wrote on 11/15/2013, 8:08 AM

Wow, these comments are eye-openers to me, but then I've never delivered something intended for wide distribution.

I would have thought that they would want something that conforms to specific quality standards but which was delivered "ready to go" as opposed to something which required some additional creative input as to mix levels. And I would have assumed stereo, since surround was employed so infrequently in the stuff I see (hear) over the numerous cable channels.