Making Dolby 5.1 Surround Settings Stick

[bass_player]

I have a movie with all mpeg stereo clips. I would like to output this to a DVD with 5.1 Surround. There are no sound files in the movie other than the sound embedded in the mpegs.

What I need is to reduce the center channel to 0.8 and set the surround position to (0,0,50). This gives a 'gentle' surround effect, with the rear channels down by about 10 db from the mains.

In the sound mode, I create these settings, but as soon as the preview starts, the surround mixer returns to the default settings.

I have tried this both in the project mode and the clip mode. The only way I can get the settings to stay put is to change them WHILE the preview is playing, which is wholly unsatisfactory.

So, is there a way to make the surround settings 'permanent' for a project or a clip?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Using X2,what version are you using?

I change the audio to 5.1 Surround

I change the sliders and they remain where I put them, clip and project playback are the same.

I open a new project, select 5.1 and the sliders are set to the last position used.

I don¡¦t use 5.1 but don¡¦t see a problem.

Have you applied all patches to your version of VS?
Have you manually installed the Direct X update from the link at the top of this forum?

[bass_player]

Hi

Using X2,what version are you using?

I change the audio to 5.1 Surround

I change the sliders and they remain where I put them, clip and project playback are the same.

I open a new project, select 5.1 and the sliders are set to the last position used.

I don¡¦t use 5.1 but don¡¦t see a problem.

Have you applied all patches to your version of VS?
Have you manually installed the Direct X update from the link at the top of this forum?

All patches applied to VS X2 Pro. All Direct X done.

My main issue is with the little box that lets you change your position relative to the speakers. I want to reduce the surround amplitude by choosing a position closer to the center and mains, which of course, makes the center too loud. So, I also with to reduce the center to 0.8.

I have tried everything I can think of, but I can't get the thing to stay put for even a short clip. Finally, I just broke down and bought Sony Vegas Studio Pro. It's about the same price as VS, but it does the two things that VS just doesn't do well: Color Correction and sound manipulation.

I much prefer the work flow and title and menu features in VS and have make a couple of short movies using Vegas to do color and sound correction and then rendering clips to mpeg2 for use in VS. Weird way to do it, but it seems to work. The only problem with that method is that I don't know a way to have VS leave the sound tracks completely alone so that a 5.1 track from the clip is retained as I created it.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I¡¦ve been playing around with the 5.1 surround sound.

You need to be in Audio View Project Playback mode
For this test I placed the curser beyond the clip name so I could view the timeline.
From the mixer display I drag the centre disc up to 0.0.50 position,
I notice a key-frame square symbol is inserted to the timeline
I adjust the middle slider to 0.2 (that¡¦s low)
I adjust the right slider to 0.5
The first keyframe being set to these settings.

I set the curser before the first keyframe and play the project.

I can see the surround sound mixer gradually change from the default to the first keyframes settings.
The remaining clip plays using the settings above. To exaggerate the effect I reduced the Volume slider, giving me a better view.

I can set more key frames by clicking the centre disc or sliders., but am unable to edit the existing keyframes.
Delete them yes, and add again.

If you start with the curser on the first frame then you do not see the new keyframe, so is difficult to see whats going on.
With the curser at the start the surround sound will affect the whole clip, which is what you want.
But you have to apply the settings to each clip even though you are working in project playback mode.

If you switch to clip playback you will play the original clip without the sound settings..
You have to play and edit in Project Playback mode.

It seems to work all be it a little tricky, I think gets easier with use.

Remember Project Playback mode

[bass_player]

I had tried that method, but had dragged the keyframe back to the very start of the clip. Apparently, that makes the setting go away. I guess I will try to place the keyframe as close to the start of the clip as I can, but NOT at the first frame and see how that goes.

Thanks for all your effort in this matter!

Cheers.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Project Playback,
Use the controls under the preview screen to navigate to ¡¥Home¡¦, the first frame.
Then apply the surround sound, this will apply to the whole clip