Question about 5.1 Audio in Sony Vegas

[prl]

Hello,

I'm doing some video/audio edition in Sony Vegas 8.0 and I'm having some doubts about the audio part.

This is my scenario: I have one video track with my video and two audio tracks. In the DVD I'm authoring, I will have a menu for people to choose between PCM Stereo audio or 5.1 audio.

My question is: I'll have to generate two separate audio tracks from Vegas right? One PCM stereo track and another AC3 5.1. I'll then import both in Adobe Encore DVD 2.0, which I'm using for the author part. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

Yes, you will have to create two audio tracks, one for each format.

If you are doing this correctly, then the two mixes will most likely be different, so it is not a simple matter of simply outputting a 2 channel version of the 5.1 mix.

[prl]

Yes, you will have to create two audio tracks, one for each format.

If you are doing this correctly, then the two mixes will most likely be different, so it is not a simple matter of simply outputting a 2 channel version of the 5.1 mix.

Thanks for the quick answer! I'll extract the PCM Stereo track and only then create the 5.1 mix on the Vegas project then.

Thanks again!

[guns1inger]

How are you creating the 5.1 mix ?

[prl]

How are you creating the 5.1 mix ?

Well, in Vegas I'll go to the project properties and set the Audio to 5.1 Surround. Then I'll put my main audio track mostly to the front channels (front middle, right and left) and my secondary audio almost all to the rear channels. Then extract in AC3 5.1 ..

[prl]

By the way, since I'm going to have both audio tracks (stereo and 5.1) should I go for AC3 stereo rather than PCM stereo (takes up less space)?

[guns1inger]

Depends on the length and content of the video. If you keep the bitrate high (256 kbps minimum for stereo) then in most cases the difference wont be heard on anything but audiophile level equipment.

[prl]

Depends on the length and content of the video. If you keep the bitrate high (256 kbps minimum for stereo) then in most cases the difference wont be heard on anything but audiophile level equipment.

My video is 140 mins long and I'll be doing a Dual Layer DVD out of it. I think space for high bitrate isn't a problem right?

[guns1inger]

Try a couple of test renders and see what works. 224 and 256 kbps for stereo, 384 and 448 for 5.1