Producing 5.1 Surround from 2.0 Stereo

[mfsn]

Hello all,

I would like to convert my favorite songs from an ordinary music CD to a 5.1 Dolby Surround format that plays on my DVD/Receiver system. During the conversion process, I would like to edit special effects (such as echo, doppler, approximation/distancing, volume of each channel, etc) and create a more 3D, dynamic or futuristic feeling for the original studio recordings.

Could someone walk me through the steps for achieving this? I imagine that I could start from a demo software and a PC with CD-R drive or will it be necessary a DVD-R? Is the sequence below correct?

Original track on CD -> 1 audio file on PC (format?) -> Conversion Program (name?) -> 5.1 surround audio files on PC (format?) -> Effects Edition Program (name?) -> 1 mixed audio file on PC (format?) -> CD Recording Program (name?) -> Final 5.1 surround track on CD.


Thanks.

[bennychico11]

You're asking quite a bit from today's technology. First off you won't be able to get a surround sound mix from a 2 channel CD. At least, you won't be able to separate the instruments. You can probably take the L or R channels and put them in the rear channels or something like that. What are you thinking that you can accomplish with surround that you're missing from your audio cds? If you are still wanting to do surround sound with these limitations...you'll need a program like Nuendo that can handle surround sound, a Dolby Encoder plugin/program, DVD-R drive and DVD-Rs (regular CDs won't cut it). But like I said, you won't be able to control each instrument since you don't have each individual track, sorry.

[mfsn]

Originally Posted by bennychico11

You're asking quite a bit from today's technology. First off you won't be able to get a surround sound mix from a 2 channel CD. At least, you won't be able to separate the instruments. You can probably take the L or R channels and put them in the rear channels or something like that. What are you thinking that you can accomplish with surround that you're missing from your audio cds? If you are still wanting to do surround sound with these limitations...you'll need a program like Nuendo that can handle surround sound, a Dolby Encoder plugin/program, DVD-R drive and DVD-Rs (regular CDs won't cut it). But like I said, you won't be able to control each instrument since you don't have each individual track, sorry.

Yes, I agree. But think about a song like Yellow Submarine where the Beatles have separated voice (L) from instruments (R). In a large room I could use the same (L) and (R) stereo source but reverse their outputs to the surround channels and make a listener on the right hear "the same sound" as another on the right side of the room. I could also play with volume levels to enhance portions of the song on the center channel only when the lead singer is singing and to increase the volume on the surround channels only during backing vocals/chorus portions of the song. I just would like to play a little with these kind of things...

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by mfsn

Yes, I agree. But think about a song like Yellow Submarine where the Beatles have separated voice (L) from instruments (R). In a large room I could use the same (L) and (R) stereo source but reverse their outputs to the surround channels and make a listener on the right hear "the same sound" as another on the right side of the room. I could also play with volume levels to enhance portions of the song on the center channel only when the lead singer is singing and to increase the volume on the surround channels only during backing vocals/chorus portions of the song. I just would like to play a little with these kind of things...

I think I understand where you're going with this, and I urge you to try it if you want to. I'd be interested to hear it myself. I just want to bring light on a few things about surround first before you venture into it. First, I think you really won't hear much dramatic differences by flipping the LR and putting them in the rear. Mainly 'cause if someone is facing forward, the Right channel will be coming from the right and from behind them which I think could annoy some people. I've always had qualms with surround mixing for music like SACD or DVD...mainly because I see mixing music as trying to recreate a live concert, like the band is right there. But when listening to a concert or a band, generally they are not surrounding you. The bass player, guitarist, drummer...they're all in front of you and not behind. More channels of speakers doesn't always mean a better sound. Especially from an album that was mixed orginally for stereo (like the Beatles one...which is probably already mixed to perfection anyway). I think really the only effect you will get with more speakers is just a louder sound. Also, you might run into phasing problems...although, if anyone here thinks I'm wrong on that correct me, I'm not 100% on that since I haven't tried running the same sound behind you as in front of you. Good luck though.

[Imaduck]

No, I don't believe you'd have phasing problems, as it's a pretty different concept than what you’re describing. I've heard some pretty neat stuff done with music in surround, but I'll agree that it doesn't do anything to recreate the average live experience, however it is pretty neat to hear an orchestra explode around you, with cellos in the back and flutes up front, though you're not going to achieve anything as great as that from a 2 channel mix I'm sure, sorry. As much as I've messed with Dolby systems I've never tried to mix them myself, and I too would be excited to hear about any program that could do this. Hopefully somebody out there knows.