Questions and Answers about 5.1 Surround Sound files

Why use 5.1 Surround Sound tracks?

Questions and Answers about 5.1 Surround Sound files

• -What makes up a 5.1 Surround Sound file?
• What are the advantages of 5.1 Surround Sound effects over stereo tracks?
• I have been working with stereo tracks so far, even for surround applications. Why should I change my work method now?
• Is working with 5.1 Surround Sound tracks more time-consuming?
• What are the system requirements for working with Surround Sound files?
• Working with 5.1 files
• Working with multi-channel audio formats

Why use 5.1 Surround Sound tracks?

What makes up a 5.1 Surround Sound file?

5.1 Surround Sound tracks are multi-channel audio files. A Surround Sound track is made up of six individual audio channels.

-Left channel
-Right channel
-Center channel
-Sub Bass channel
-Left Surround channel
-Right Surround channel

Because the Surround Sound tracks from Soundeffects.ch have been recorded in a multi-channel environment, it is important that the individual tracks begin exactly at the same point:

What are the advantages of 5.1 Surround Sound effects over stereo tracks?

Basically, there are two kinds of sound effects: sound effects that reproduce a single sound (e.g. a car horn, a door slamming shut, the neighing of a horse) and so-called ambient tracks that reproduce the atmosphere of a particular location (e.g. a crowded square, natural environments like woods, mountains, steppes, deserts, coasts, beaches, etc.).
The difference between the two is obvious: a single sound effect occurs in a specific, clearly defined location. For example, a car horn will sound from the hood of a car (i.e. a specific location). Hence, it is a single sound and can therefore be accurately reproduced in mono or stereo.
Ambient tracks, on the other hand, are atmospheric. Imagine being in the woods: you hear the wind in the trees, the chirping of birds, the sounds envelop you from all sides. This is what we call an ambient atmosphere. And it is best reproduced in 5.1 Surround Sound.

If you wish to catch an earful of the depth and realism of ambient tracks in 5.1 Surround Sound, please feel free to download these free 5.1 demo tracks and try them out. You won't be disappointed! Caution is advised, though, for 5.1 Surround Sound effects can be addictive!

I have been working with stereo tracks so far, even for surround applications. Why should I change my work method now?

Many people create Surround Sound in post by using 'three-dimensional' stereo sounds for the front and rear channels. The results, although often quite good, don't even come near the Surround Sound experience. Thanks to multi-channel recording technology, Surround Sound tracks feature complete front and rear channel information, which makes the listening experience even more 'enveloping'. When you 'bend' stereo tracks (as you will probably know from experience), the resulting sound tends to feel 'two-dimensional' and mono-like, which is ultimately not what you want from a surround experience. The realism is lost and additional sounds have to be layered on in order to get acceptable results.

On the other hand, when you use Surround Sound tracks you immediately build a solid 'three-dimensional' foundation. All you need to do is add other fitting sounds (either in surround, stereo, or mono) to the mix in order to create the desired atmosphere. Try it yourself: download 18 free demo tracks from our website!

Is working with 5.1 Surround Sound tracks more time-consuming?

No. Surround Sound files are as easy to work with as conventional stereo tracks.

What are the system requirements for working with Surround Sound files?

For the playback of 5.1 Surround Sound files you will need the following components:

-a multi-channel application like Pro Tools, Logic, Sonar, Nuenod, etc.

-an audio interface with at least six audio outputs

-a Surround Sound audio player that complies with either the ITU or Dolby standard

The playback capability of an audio application generally depends on the latest upgrade that has been installed. For example, any version of ProTools after '5.1' is Surround Sound compatible.

Surround Sound can even be edited or played back with older versions. Simply create six individual audio tracks and route these to the corresponding outputs of your audio interface (which, of course, has to be connected a correct speaker arrangement). Read more about correct 5.1 playback.

It has to be said, though, that working with Surround Sound automatically demands more channels and, naturally, more computing power. A fully functional, up-to-date workstation will certainly make life easier. Modern computers or high-capacity hard disk recording systems like ProTools HD can handle almost any workload.

Working with 5.1 files

There are different ways of working with 5.1 Surround Sound files. We will look at three of them:

Multi-channel Track:

Several sound editing applications (ProTools, for instance) offer multitrack channels that allow you to work with multi-channel audio formats in one single track. This is an easy way to work with Surround Sound tracks. Load an entire 5.1 Surround Sound track into a multi-channel track and you will be able to control all six tracks in unison (i.e. one fader curve automatically controls all of the six individual tracks).

This is the main advantage, then: the changes you make are automatically applied to all of the tracks.
All you need to do is create a fade curve for all of the six tracks and, voilà, the risk of them being accidentally misaligned no longer exists.
There is a downside to this method, though. Specific changes to individual tracks can not be made as easily as when the tracks are separated from each other.

Two stereo tracks, two mono tracks:

Create three stereo tracks: one for left and right, one for surround left and surround right, a mono track for the center and one for the sub bass channel as well.
Now you can make many individual changes. For example, you can change the front/rear ratio. Depending on the application you use, you can remote control all of the tracks with one fader, so that you only have to carry out one automation.

A drawback is the potential misalignment of the audio tracks.

Six mono tracks:

Now you have control over the six tracks. Depending on the application, you can use one fader to remote control the six tracks. Specific changes can now be made to each individual track, because you have access to each one of them. Beware of accidentally misaligning the tracks, though. Also, the great number of tracks might crowd the display screen.

Soundeffects.ch's Surround Sound effects have been pre-mixed so that the respective levels of the tracks correspond to each other and do not need any further tweaking. It is not uncommon, though, to change the ratio according to the individual application of the sounds.

Working with multi-channel audio formats

Modern cinemas use a variety of multi-channel audio formats. Read more about them by clicking on the respective links:

Quad 2+2 Quadraphonic	LCRS 3+1 for Dolby Surround
5.1 for DTS, Dolby Digital	6.1 for Dolby EX

7.1 for SDDS