Hi!

What would be the best approach to mixing a 5.1 dd soundtrack on my computer? (I know it's best to cash out some money and go to a professional recording studio.) I've got a soundcard with digital out and a full surroundsystem, but what I need to know is if there is any application that can encode a dd stream out the digital out in realtime and that has a fair amount of tracks that pan in 5 speakers.

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Slas, Sweden

Go check out the Pro Tools web site. The have a couple of low cost solutions (under US$1000) that can do the job for you. The MBox might do the job you want. It's less than US$500 or then there is the DIGI 01, which is under US$1000

There is a very complicated way to create DIY surround. Unfortunately most consumer/prosumer software i.e. Adobe Premiere 6 don't provide you with a filter or plug in, but does support Direct-X plugs which will enable you to create this effect (www.analogx.com).

I won't list the way of doing this because it is far to complex, but if you are able to get hold of the May edition of Computer Video there is a little article on DIY Surround, which might help you.

URL: www.computervideo.net (you might be able to order a copy from there)

Hope this helps,

Ed Smith

I don't know if audio applications can do real-time multichannel
output through a digital output (ie, SPDIF). I think you need a
"professional" soundcard for that. I do know there are at least
two Dolby Digital software encoders (one is softencode) out
there. There is also a DTS encoder (surcode DTS) available. This
are NOT realtime though. A lof of people and studios these
days are using Nuendo for surround work (with a professional
multichannel surround card -> ie at least 5 channels out).
Perhaps Nuendo also does digital out? (I'd have to verify this)

Thanks for the replys!

I did some research on my own and found out about nuendo too. I doesn't encode dolby digital or dts, you have to use a separate encoder for that.

I also found out my SoundBlaster Live! has two seperate stereo outputs. Creative Mixer has settings for 4 speakers. Would it be possible to use 2 SoundBlasters with a mixing app as a budget solution?

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Slas, Sweden