Using Surround sound format for a mix

[Steve Martin]

I am considering upgrading my software for mixing, to one that has the ability to mix in surround sound.

Has anybody used this format with their demo's?

When listening to a demo through stereo speaker systems, or headphones, would a  surround format mix still sound better than a stereo mix of the same piece of music? [I don't know if my sound card in my computer has the ability to let me hear surround sound through my headphones].

Has anyone got any examples of demo's that use surround sound?

thanks if someone can share their thoughts/experience/knowledge about this.

best,

Steve.

[MNovy]

Hi,

since all samples are recorderd not in surround, it is difficult to create the surround effect afterwards, with a realistic sound.

It is unlike surround mixing for special FX sounds in motion picture. Here you have to fight with reflections and such stuff.

Surround-Sound means, that there are not only 2 channels, but at least 4 or more (depending on the used encoder later).

But true surround sound like 5.1 requires an encoder to create, and a decoder plus the playback system on the customer's side for sure. Otherweise the channels may be mixed togehter and may create side effects.

So it is not possible to beneft from encoded surround music through usual stereo headphones (but there are surround headphones as well out there).

Best regards,

Mike

____________________________

www.the-composers-approach.com

[Steve Martin]

Hi Mike,

thanks for that info. That's good to know. The other thing I wanted to ask that you may be able to help me with is this - I have a "light" version of a software mixing product and this does not have a process in it called "dithering", and if I upgrade to the full version, when it comes to converting to mp3s, I can use some kind of process called "dithering" which is featured in the full version.

Does this process make overall a better mp3 sound in the mix, than when not using a dithering effect when mixing down to mp3's?

If it does, is it that noticeable in the final sound?

thanks if you or anyone else has an opnion on this.

best,

Steve.

[DG]

If you are working at a higher bit rate than 16bit 9such as 24bit), and you intend to mixdown to 16bit, you must always use dither. If your software does not have a dither plug then you must get one.

DG

[Steve Martin]

Hi DG,

thanks for that.

Well, the software I use for mixing - the end mix I can export the audio file as a 32 bit wave file.

Now, I have Sonar Home Studio 2004 which has a dither set up with it, and I purchased an encoder from Sonar that I have used to make  mp3's.  So, if I get the exported 32 bit wave file from the other software, and then import it as audio into Home Studio, and if I encode it to an mp3 in Home Studio, and have the dither switched on, that should work shouldn't it?

thanks if you can let me know.

best,

Steve.

[MNovy]

Hi Steve,

if you export your final audio project to 32 bit at 44.1kHz or 48kHz, a dither is not required.

It is requried if you down sample the material to 16 bit or something similar afterwards to match DVD or CD standards.

The added noise on the signal avoids those quantization errors, especially on low (silent) signals.

But: if you intend to convert your final audio project (WAV) anyway to MP3, you can just do it without down sampling before.

Everything you need is a software, which is capable reading such high rated audio files including a MP3 encoder.

Best wishes,

Mike

____________________________

www.the-composers-approach.com

[Steve Martin]

Thanks Mike for that info. Much appreciated.

Well, the software I am using has a special mp3 encoder that works with it. I had to pay for it and download it, and it converts the 32 bit file into an mp3 so I guess from what you are saying, that this is fine.

thanks again for your help.

best,

Steve

[MNovy]

You're welcome :)