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Activity Forums DaVinci Resolve 5.1 output to two speakers from one track

  • 5.1 output to two speakers from one track

    Posted by Brian Johnson on March 22, 2024 at 11:48 pm

    Guys, I just finished a feature containing 25 tracks of audio. 7 dialogue tracks, 10 effects tracks and 8 music tracks. I have to delivery this project for distribution in 5.1 surround. My question is how do you split one tract to two different speakers. For example I will be pointing all dialogue tracks to center speaker but nee all music tracks to point to both right and edit speakers. In resolve I only see the ability to drag my blue dot selector to one side or the other when choosing speaker placement within a track. In other words I need my 8 tracks to go to both right and left.

    Silas Figueroa replied 7 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Michael Gissing

    March 25, 2024 at 4:36 am

    You really need to pay a sound post production person to take your project and produce a surround mix. You need to understand and be able to monitor 5.1 plus the required deliverables. I sense this is not a task you can and should do given your questions

  • Brian Johnson

    March 25, 2024 at 1:44 pm

    Michael, thank you for your response. I agree perhaps that I should pay someone to do this. The film I produced is streaming in July and even though 5.1 was an option I feel it to be a more advantageous for the platforms. As for myself I gave been a cinematographer / editor for over 30 years in the film industry to include mixing my on audio in post. However 5.1 surround is new to me in regards to post and even though I know the theory I know how things can fall short when you are not familiar with the process. So I’m going to be looking for someone who can do this for me. I will just export my 23 track and provide someone with the stems.

  • Matthew Skala

    March 25, 2024 at 6:03 pm

    Hey Brian, Yes, you really should hire a post production mixer to take care of this for you. In that scenario, the mixer will deliver 5.1 tracks of audio which will have to be mapped properly on your timeline for export. If this is not an option for the budget, You’ll have to mix down your tracks so they can be mapped to 5.1. Typically dialog is mapped to front left and front right, maybe in the center also depending on the scene and desired effect. FX and Music are generally distributed amongst all speakers, with the rear left and rear right being used for music and sounds that you want coming from behind the audience, such as approaching helicopters, gun fire or whatever– and this is why you need to be able to monitor in 5.1. Also, consider that if there isn’t a budget for this, the practical thing is just to export in Stereo. I did that once on a film I shot and edited and it worked out fine for festivals and streaming.

  • Silas Figueroa

    April 1, 2024 at 6:36 pm

    You will need to use the pan or balance function in your audio editor or audio editing program. You will need to create a multi-channel track and place your track on that track. You can then use the panning or balance tools to specify how much of the sound will be directed to the left and how much to the right.

    If you have eight music tracks and you want them to play both left and right, you will need to adjust the balance so that the sound is evenly distributed between the left and right channels.

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