Next Gen vegas suggestion: Auto-LFE

RichMacDonald wrote on 1/26/2004, 5:28 PM
A suggestion for the next version of Vegas: Include an option to "auto-route" all <120Hz signals from the 5 other speakers to the LFE as well. IOW, mono the 5 satellite channels, low-pass filter at 120Hz, and send that signal to the LFE. Add this to whatever has been specifically routed to the LFE. One simple check box in the audio options window.

Background: When doing 5.1 audio mixing, unless you specifically send something to the LFE, you'll get nothing out of the LFE subwoofer. While I understand the intent of the LFE (*extra* bass for those special fx), in truth the LFE is an essential component of a full frequency response for most surround systems...most of us don't have satellite speakers responsive to 20Hz :-)

AFAICT, this forces one to duplicate every audio track and route it separately to the LFE. *Post* processing! Sorry, but this is really dumb. Alternatively, one could render the audio to a new track then route that to the LFE. Not attractive either.

Am I out to lunch, should have RTFM, or in the majority :-?

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 1/26/2004, 5:54 PM
Not RTFM, but certainly not accurate.
You need to render the track to create an LFE track. Otherwise, downmix info wouldn't be correct based on how the industry does it, and processing is also a challenge if there isn't a dedicated track. Further, it wouldn't be industry compliant with how Dolby's system is read by decoders. You have a good point, but there is a lack of control for non-Dolby systems and downmixing. So, while you have a good and responsible point, there is a compliancy factor required by Dolby in order to meet compliance. Is there another way to do this? Well...yes. Others have tried other solutions, look to Audition for instance. However, it's a mucky mess, and infinitely creates a muddier mix overall. And still isn't controlled, nor accurate. I understand, believe me, that you'd like to cut some of the workflow down, but with 5.1, it's really not that easy to do and still meet standards.
RichMacDonald wrote on 1/26/2004, 5:56 PM
Ok. only 20 min later and I'm already egg-faced. Dunno about you, but my M-audio LX4s are smart enough to route the satellite low-ends to the sub-woofer. (Note to self: Listen to the speakers, not the meters :-) Is this true in general? Yeah yeah, I know, check the dolby urls...
RichMacDonald wrote on 1/26/2004, 6:15 PM
From the source: dolby article

"Keep in mind that Dolby Digital's five main channels (L, C, R, LS, RS) are all full-range, and the LFE channel does not extend frequency response. It exists primarily to enable more powerful low-frequency special effects for film soundtracks. Also, remember that all Dolby Digital decoders offer bass management, a feature that enables the consumer to direct extreme low frequencies to a subwoofer , or to any of the speakers in the system (such as L and R) that can reproduce low bass. When bass management is used, a ".1" track derived from a four or five-channel mix may cause unwanted summing or cancellation of low frequencies in a subwoofer. Delivering a quality track with five full range main channels, which allows the end user to optimise bass management to his specific playback system, is the best way to assure accurate delivery of the sound intended by the program's producers."

IOW, leave that LFE channel empty unless you're making Earthquake. Sorry Sonic, my bad. No need for that extra option.
ibliss wrote on 1/27/2004, 12:33 AM
"AFAICT, this forces one to duplicate every audio track and route it separately to the LFE. *Post* processing! Sorry, but this is really dumb. Alternatively, one could render the audio to a new track then route that to the LFE. Not attractive either."

Create an audio bus, route it to the LFE channel.
Any tracks that you want sent to the LFE, send x ammount to that bus.