5.1 mixing in Platinum

[dackl]

I just installed yesterday and started playing around. Is this the general idea for mixing:

Front mics in front Left and Right, surround mics in surrounds (that part is obvious).

Then one takes the pan out of the close mics and puts the left close in the center speaker. Then do you take the right close, roll off all above 100hz and feed it to the subwoofer?

This is the impression I got from playing around and watching the DVD tutorial.

Another question: when adding sampels from other libraries, what is a good convolution verb to match. Altiverb's Amsterdam Concertgebouw?

I'm very impressed with the release samples, by the way.

JD

[jphilpit]

You should definitely read the section on 5.1 mixing in the PDF "Guide" I wrote with advice from the EWQL professionals. (If you also have Pro XP, then it's in the printed manual. I'm not sure whether the new printed manual has made it into the boxes for original Platinum. If the manual is 213 pages, then it's the new one that includes the text I'm referring to.) You can get this free "Guide" by sending a Private Message on this forum to Doug Rogers, the owner of EastWest Sounds. Make sure you include one of your 4 serial numbers; the "Guide" is only available to those who bought legitimate copies.

The one area where the recommendation about 5.1 mixing has changed recently is that if you're writing for systems that have their own hardware cutoff for what to send to the LFE channel, then don't supply a separate channel for the subwoofer; let the hardware handle that, because each system knows its own optimal frequency responses. On the other hand, if you're writing for an environment which will use 6 or more independent feeds to the separate speakers, then you can best make the determination of what sounds and frequencies go where.

John

[dackl]

Thanks. Yes, I have that manual, and the only parts that were confusing to me were about making the close mics mono and what to send to the sub. I mix in ProTools 7 for feature films, so there is no hardware crossover. (Well, actually there is in my speaker setup -- Events -- but I never notice it) You can send LFE from any channel, but it makes the most sense to send it from the close mics of, say, basses, tympani and bass drum than from room or more ambient mics. I supposed I could also mix stereo close mics into LR or even LCR slightly panned to the center. Just not both close mics to the center for phase reasons, I take it.

Film music 5.1 mixing can be a little more gimicky than classical music mixing. For example, I think it was Morricone's score for MALENA where I remember overdubs of electric bass, oboe, guitar and drum set being discrete in the center and the orchestra in L/R/Ls/Rs. Sounded great in context but a little odd when you think about it.

JD