Dolby Surround question

[scottrwn98]

Ok, I have the ability to create a 5.1 AC3 file and encode it into a DVD. But, I want to take the stereo WAV file and encode it with Dolby Surround. Pro Tools will not work on XP, so what can I do to encode my Audio with Dolby Surround?

I do it manually by taking a mono file, converting it to Stereo, and fliping on of the channels (left or right) and I get surround sound, but when I down mix it to mono, it cancels out the audio leaving me with silence.

Anyone know how this is done?

[BJ_M]

protools bairly works on ANY nt platform ...

anyway - apps that mix in 5:1 are:

ACID 4
Nuendo surround edition
mix 5:1 Minnetonka
SAWPro
PanHandler DirectX plugin for Sound Forge and Wave Lab and SAW studio
Sekd
C-Mexx - Yamaha DS2416 DSP Factory

[scottrwn98]

Well, I just got an e-mail from Dolby and they told me that the only software encoders that are licensed with Dolby are Soundscape 32 and DigiDesign Protools. So that doesn't help.

5.1 is for DVD's and Dolby Surround is for analog, ie VHS and mini-DV. I just want to know how to encode Surround in my stereo waves. But Soundscape and ProTools 5.3.1 I think require hardware as well as their software. I'm confused...anyone else have any idea?

Thanks a bunch !

[House de Kris]

scottrwn98, you appear to be attempting to create Dolby Surround via a manual method very similar to what is described on the Senophonic Surround page. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of misinformation on those pages. Creating Dolby Surround is more than just a simple polarity flip. Dolby Labs recognized the exact problem you are asking about here, namely loss of surround when played in mono. I suggest you read the Dolby document

http://www.dolby.com/tech/l.ml.9811.surmix.s.pdf

for details. Specifically, look at chapter 8 section 8.1 for details.

[BJ_M]

Dolby is mixed up - both of those are hardware ....

believe me - i have a dolby hardware encoder and all software encoders also ..

the list above is surround MIXING .. to encode the 6 mono wav file to ac3 you need a dolby software encoder - there is the freeware besweet (which i havnt tried) ,

and these others - the reason i say dolby is full of crap is because i got this list off thier web site ( http://www.dolby.com/digital/lcddpem.html )
Apple
www.apple.com APACK 5.1-channel software encoder included in DVD Studio Pro authoring software suite for Apple Macintosh
Digital Vision, Inc.
www.digitalvision.se/ BitPack Real-time two- and 5.1-channel Dolby Digital encoder in PitPack Audio Encoding Workstation
Digigram
www.digigram.com Multichannel Digital Audio Encoder 5.1-channel stand-alone application that can also be used as a fully integrated plug-in with Digigram's Xtrack suite of digital audio tools
Emersys Corporation
www.emersys.co.kr
www.maven3d.com Dolby Digital Encoder Dolby Digital Encoder 5.1-channel encoder software plugin for Maven 3D Professional Sound Editor software for Windows.
Kind of Loud Universal Audio Company
www.kindofloud.com SmartCode Pro 5.1 channel software encoder for Macintosh
Motorola
www.gi.com DigiCipher II family of broadcast encoders
Harmonic
www.harmonicinc.com or www.divi.com MPE-8000 two-channel broadcast encoder
Media View family of broadcast encoders
Lucent
www.lucent.com LDV_EVA150/152/200/210 two-channel broadcast encoder
LDV_AXP100 six-by-two-channel broadcast encoder
Matsushita
www.panasonic.com LQ-VD2000S
LQ-VDS120 two-channel encoder DVD authoring system
Minnetonka
www.minnetonkaaudio.com Surcode for Dolby Digital 5.1-channel stand-alone software encoder
Momentum Data Systems, Inc.
www.mds.com Opus563 5.1-channel PCI card based encoder
Optibase, Inc.
www.optibase.com MPEG MovieMaker 200S two-channel PCI card based encoder
MPEG Composer two-channel PCI card based encoder
Scientific Atlanta
www.sciatl.com PowerVu Plus two-channel broadcast encoder
Sea Change
www.seachange.com DSI system two-channel broadcast server
Sonic Solutions
www.sonic.com DVD Fusion two-channel encoder in a DVD authoring system for MAC and Windows
DVD Creator two- or 5.1-channel software encoder in a DVD authoring workstation or encoding workstation for Macintosh
Scenarist (NT) 5.1-channel Dolby Digital encoder in a Windows-NT based DVD authoring system
Scenarist (SGI) As above, but for SGI workstation
Spruce Technologies
www.spruce-tech.com ACXpress5100 5.1-channel PCI card based encoder
MPX3000 two-channel encoder with MPEG-2 video encoder PCI card
Steinberg Media Technologies Inc.
www.steinberg.net Dolby Digital Encoder 5.1-channel encoder software plugin for Nuendo Media Production System for Macintosh and Windows
Tandberg Television
www.Tandbergtv.com E5000 SD broadcast encoder
E5821 HD broadcast encoder
Videotele.com Inc.
www.videotele.com M2 Trilium Two-channel audio with MPEG-2 video broadcast encoder
Zapex
www.zapex.com ZP-100 two-channel / 5.1-channel PCI-based encoder for Winodws and Linux OS
ZP-330 MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital/PCM audio encoders for Windows and Linux OS

[scottrwn98]

I see people are visiting the website...and I know what Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround are, the info on my website is old compared to what I've learned from Dolby this week. But Dolby is not mentioned on my website.

[scottrwn98]

I have Soft Encode to encode my audio with 6 channels and I've burned DVD's (mini DVD's) and I have succesfully mixed 5.1 sound. But I'm trying to learn the proper way to encode Surround for VHS tapes. DVD, as I said, already have software to encode an AC3.

And I know what happends when you flip a channel, it does turn to zero...found that out when I mixed audio for a film back in 1999. What I mentioned in the website is that the surround channel looks for the waves out of phase...but if they are a mirror image of eachother, then they cancel each other out.

[BJ_M]

crip - finally i figured out you are talking about prologic , not nessesarly dolby surround or ac3 dolby digital as they are not exactly always one in the same and most people here use the terms iterchangable ..

i use a Dolby SEU4 for tape material used for marketing purposes but the way its done can be simulated on most editors .. as you must realize - most of the work is in the decoder ..

the links from here pretty well cover it all - nothing more need to be added really

http://www.dolby.com/tech/whtppr.html
http://www.dolby.com/tech/trgames.pdf
http://www.dolby.com/tech/l.ml.9811.surmix.s.pdf
http://www.dolby.com/tech/l.wh.0007.PLIIops.html

[scottrwn98]

DUH...Yeah...Pro Logic...thats what I meant. I know Dolby Digital is 5.1 and Surround is 4:2:4. But...as stated in this forum, I am manually encoding my WAV's with surround sound. I try to modify one channel so that it doesn't completely cancel it out and still plays through the rear speakers. But is it possible to encode Surround Sound in a WAV file through software, or does it always have to be hardware?

I'm trying to do two things at once. Mix the sound for MiniDV and VHS and encode some effects for the AC3 sound. But on the DVD, there are two tracks that I'm encoding it with...the original PCM WAVE and the AC3. But I want to convert the AC3 down to a WAV...but the surround it canceled out. Perhaps that might help a little with my problem...I've read just about all of the Dolby papers on how this damn thing works...I'm still a little confused.

Thanks a bunch for your help !!!