[Matthew Mintun]

(Posted elsewhere too but I thought it’d help people grazing this thread)

So I bought the interface and attempted the connection between my Macbook Pro running STP and my Onkyo Receiver (TX NR709) into the BD/DVD multichannel inputs. I used 1/4″ to RCA mono cables for every connection. Unfortunately it didn’t work. It only picked up the stereo connection which made it impossible to edit.

What was cool (and as an unrelated side note) is how smart this receiver is. When put into it’s 2channel>5.1 surround mode (where it does all the conversion) it sounded like I had mixed it perfectly! All dialogue was through the center, music through the L/R and a perfect mix into the surrounds. But I digress.

So what I did was mix it by meter and not by sound (YIKES!) Made it so my dialogue peaked at about -.5db and music at around -6 to -8db and ambient effects around -13 to -15db. I then exported as AC3 out of STP and brought it over to my PC running Adobe Encore and exported as 5.1 surround (making sure it didn’t transcode my audio or else it’d be transcoded to stereo!!!)

Played on my home theater sounded great! Tested it in the theater last night and it sounded AWESOME!!! Dialogue was super clear, music could be a little louder but overall a good (and blind) mix.

My only issue right now, is my music doesn’t have enough low end. You listen to regular movie trailers and movies and their soundtrack is beefy and large. I’m using high quality songs too. Should I EQ the music to bring in more low end? Any ideas??

[Matthew Mintun]

Thanks Ty!

So I bought the interface and attempted the connection between my Macbook Pro running STP and my Onkyo Receiver (TX NR709) into the BD/DVD multichannel inputs. I used 1/4″ to RCA mono cables for every connection. Unfortunately it didn’t work. It only picked up the stereo connection which made it impossible to edit.

What was cool (and as an unrelated side note) is how smart this receiver is. When put into it’s 2channel>5.1 surround mode (where it does all the conversion) it sounded like I had mixed it perfectly! All dialogue was through the center, music through the L/R and a perfect mix into the surrounds. But I digress.

So what I did was mix it by meter and not by sound (YIKES!) Made it so my dialogue peaked at about -.5db and music at around -6 to -8db and ambient effects around -13 to -15db. I then exported as AC3 out of STP and brought it over to my PC running Adobe Encore and exported as 5.1 surround (making sure it didn’t transcode my audio or else it’d be transcoded to stereo!!!)

Played on my home theater sounded great! Tested it in the theater last night and it sounded AWESOME!!! Dialogue was super clear, music could be a little louder but overall a good (and blind) mix.

My only issue right now, is my music doesn’t have enough low end. You listen to regular movie trailers and movies and their soundtrack is beefy and large. I’m using high quality songs too. Should I EQ the music to bring in more low end? Any ideas??

[Matthew Mintun]

I’m dumb, even though I ordered all of those adapters and cables, I realize I could have just bought 1/4″ to RCA! Like these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068O16/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

So that’s what I’m going to do with that m audio interface. Hope it works :]

[Matthew Mintun]

Hey thanks for the response everyone. I went to a few post houses and got quotes for upwards of $1400 to mix 5.1 for my 2 minute trailer. Quite a bit out of my range and can’t fathom spending $1400 for this.

So with that said I will be attacking this myself. I’m thinking I’ll mix it in 5 channels (no LFE cuz I would have no idea where to start with that channel). Though I’m assuming I still apply an LFE channel to the mix just with no actual “sound” in it.

Dialogue in center channel and music in L/R mainly. Then I’ll do as was said earlier and put slight reverb and a few ms delay on the surround channel for the music at a much lower volume to fill the room a little bit more. Plus some more ambient sounds of say a park etc so they feel like they are in it.

Again this is a documentary with a lot of dialogue and b-roll so I’m thinking that the surround channels will have hardly anything in them.

Unfortunately I do not have 6 speakers to edit on but am thinking of editing (I’m gonna get flamed for this) on my theater system…connecting my comp to my surround receiver and editing. I know it’s not ideal but it’s really the best I can do. I’ll create multiple mixes (including a stereo mix with my main monitors) to bring to the theater.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I’ll need it!!

[Matthew Mintun]

Wow, thanks Peter! That put it into perspective. The theater is taking a BluRay as the deliverable. I’ll contact them and see what they would like to see in the form of surround.

I’ll check around here for a post house for the sound. So if I prep everything at my place for the post house that’d mean having just the raw dialogue (no effects), music (no effects), and any sound effects on the different audio tracks in stereo and then have them take care of the mixing for surround?

Or since this is just going to be a short 2 minute movie trailer (not for a client but for friends) would I just be fine mixing as you said: dialogue center, music L/R and effects, surround L/R = music delayed a few ms with added reverb to become more ambient? I’m already in over my head on production costs for this whole “event” and looking to save anywhere I can.

How much “should” a post house charge for this type of mix?
-Matt

[Matthew Mintun]

Answered my own question with a long work around:
https://vimeo.com/21981774

[Matthew Mintun]

Here’s a full explanation I made on how to do it.

https://vimeo.com/21981774

[Matthew Mintun]

Here’s what you do

FILE > EXPORT > MEDIA

In the media encoder export screen click “Format” and choose “Audio Only”

Then to keep everything clean I would click “Output Name” and create a folder in your program files JUST for these audio clips..and then name each clip for what it is (ie: Andrea_VO_1) and choose a different name for each.

I’ll put together a quick screen capture to show ya and link to it. Give me an hour :]

[Matthew Mintun]

So I had another idea…it may take a while to do but it may be worth it in the end.

Export each audio track as AAC from Premiere Pro, then import into Soundbooth OR Audition. Once imported into either of these programs (in multi-track setting)…each “sound” will fall where it is supposed to fall in the timeline with its own separate track.

After this you can add effects to individual tracks and then export as AAC, AIFF or WAV from Audition or Soundbooth and import the stereo track into Premiere.

There are 2 hiccups to this:
1. It takes time to export EACH audio track on its own (by muting other tracks each export)
2. You have to move all audio files to their separate track in the timeline in PP. For me if I have one location, all audio (from shotgun) from that one location will be on one track, VO’s from speaker 1 on track 2, VO from speaker 2 on track 3, etc…

In PP: Mute all tracks except for the first one.
File>Export>Media
Format: Audio Only

Do this for each audio track you have (unmuting and muting). Of course you won’t be able to edit to video…but you could always export a “video only” file from PP and then import that into Audition or Soundbooth (I think they have this functionality).

Yes it takes time, and I hope Adobe fixes this (like FCP to STP on mac) but this will work for me.

Ultimately…you edit audio after everything is finalized video wise…if any changes are made after editing audio in this manner, you will have to redo EVERYTHING.

Hope this helps…this is my work around.

[Matthew Mintun]

Dude, if you figure this out…I will be stoked. Just asked the same question a couple days ago in a couple different forums. So far I have not found a way. Even bought Adobe Audition but still haven’t found a way.

If I figure it out, I’ll hook you up. Right now it’s looking impossible. Such a shame. Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack Pro has this feature and it makes finalizing audio SO MUCH easier.

I might have to go back to Mac based if I can’t find an answer.