Video project draft edit in 5.1 or Stereo?

KelvinWorks wrote on 12/17/2006, 3:20 PM
Plan on doing a 5.1 video project and would like some help in knowing how to proceed.

When starting a new video project is it easier to start the project properties as stereo and after the video and audio editing draft is completed change the audio properties to a 5.1 project, and copy parts of the draft audio into the center/surround and LFE channels?

Will a 5.1 DVD video project created in Vegas play back ok (including sound effects, etc) on stereo systems, or is there a need to have both types of sound track options available (stereo and 5.1)?

Thanks,

Kelvin

Comments

newhope wrote on 12/19/2006, 3:48 AM
There's no real benefit to starting in stereo and changing the properties, but no real harm either. Personally I start and finish in the same format.

Assigning parts to centre, surround etc is controlled by your surround panner. but that can be done after the initial vision edit.

I use a buss to send to LFE off normal tracks and make sure the send is set to post fader. That way the overall level is controlled by your main volume fader with the level sent to LFE a process of the type of LFE filter you set in Properties and the overall level of the track.

Your 5.1 DVD should playback on stereo systems well if you take care with the general things you need to do for stereo like phase etc .

More importantly you can set up in the Dolby Digital (ac3) encoder how the downmix from 5.1 to Prologic (Dolby Surround also known as LtRt) and Stereo (Lo/Ro) will be handled by the Dolby Digital Decoder on replay in a DVD Player when connected to stereo or Prologic systems.

I've just mixed a 30 minute short feature in 5.1 with Vegas and as well as the 5.1 mix had to output a stereo (Prologic or Lt/Rt) compatible mix for layback onto video.

The stereo mix was quite compatible, the only thing I did do in this case, as it wasn't being replayed through a Dolby Decoder but rendered as a stereo Downmixed wave file from the Surround Master in Vegas, was to run the mix through a peak limiter to bring the occasional overshoot in levels, due to the greater dynamic range available in 5.1, back to broadcast specs for video.

In your case this won't be necessary because the decoder has the ability to take care of this for you.

Regards

New Hope Media