7 Replies Latest reply: Jul 15, 2011 9:24 AM by JSS1138 RSS

    7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?

    Webshark2000 Community Member

      Our client has a large amiptheater with a 10,000 lumen HD projector and 7.1 surround sound setup.  They would like for us to produce a Blu-ray with 7.1 audio.  We have delivered a 5.1 surround Blu-ray to them, but I'm not sure if Premiere Pro is able to mix 7.1.

       

      How could we acomplish this?

       

      Thanks.

        • 1. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          Not sure about 7.1, but SurCode's DTS-HD can do 6.1 (additional rear-center).

           

          In Audition, you can mix as many Tracks, as desired, and can locate their "source," as required. The trick will be to Encode those files, in a form to fit the BD-specs.

           

          Good luck, and please share your findings,

           

          Hunt

          • 2. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
            JSS1138 CommunityMVP

            6.1 and 7.1 are essentially the same thing.  With the latter, two speakers are used to deliver the back center channel, but it's the same signal to both.

             

            And no, PP isn't capable of mixing in this format.  There's no way for you to steer the signal to a discreet back center channel.

            • 3. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

              Jim,

               

              That depends. You might want to take a look at possibilities for 6.1 HERE.

               

              With one array, there is a RC channel, with another, RC is a phantom RC from the Rs + Ls.

               

              Hunt

              • 4. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
                Webshark2000 Community Member

                So, is that to say that there is no way to encode a 7.1 mix on a Blu-ray disc without something like Pro Tools, even if the mix isn't 8 discreet channels?  Honestly if it was just a 5.1 mix that read 7.1 on the system, I don't think our client would be able to recognize the difference in sound between a true 5.1 discreet mix and a true 7.1 discreet mix, but if the player was saying it was a 7.1 mix they'd be happy.

                • 5. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                  Without going to other Encoders, I do not know of any plug-ins, or workflows to get full 7.1 from PrPro.

                   

                  I would never say that it cannot be done, as I have seen some workflows for DD 5.1SS, that relied on open source tools (OK, those are not ALL in PrPro, but without expensive Encoders), that are claimed to work fine. There are some very creative people out there.

                   

                  As for 7.1 on BD, Disney has released probably the largest 7.1 catalog of anyone, but still, there are few 7.1 titles out there, even from major studios. It seems that most commercial studios are pleased with DD 5.1 SS, and then a few supplemental formats, like DTS, DTS-HD, but do not seem inclined to go beyond 6 channels.

                   

                  I would love to hear Neil Wilkes (one of the MOD's on the Encore Forum and a heavy-duty audio producer) weigh in on 7.1 SS, as I know that he would have many ideas, and I always learn something from his contributions.

                   

                  As for the production, I often have many "channels" in Audition, however always output/Encode to DTS 6-channel for delivery.

                   

                  Good luck, and please update the thread, as you research and explore.

                   

                  Hunt

                  • 6. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
                    John T Smith CommunityMVP

                    When we built our house 4+ years ago, and I was looking for inwall speakers and amps for our two main TV areas, I looked at a few 7.l amps (can't remember brand/model) and *think* I remember that all the ones I looked at said they would work even with a 5.1 input via in-amp mixing of some sort

                     

                    So... what happens if you just create a 5.1 BluRay and use that?

                     

                    PS - since my source to the amps was DirecTV and a DVD player with "only" 5.1 output, I just went with an Onkyo 5.1 amp in both places

                    • 7. Re: 7.1 audio mixing in Premiere?
                      JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                      Honestly if it was just a 5.1 mix that read 7.1 on the system

                       

                      I don't think it works that way.  To read as more than 5.1, it likely needs to actually be more than 5.1.

                       

                      Whether the back center channel is matrixed (DVD) or discreet (DVD & Blu-ray), PP doesn't have the capabilities for creating that back center channel.