Stereo mix that sounds like surround.

[dalazz]

I've heard a few recordings of groups such as Aphex Twix and Dust Bros, that seem to place certain things in different places within the mix. For example, a bass drum and bass guitar would be square in the middle, two guitars may be panned to the left and right, but some effects (with good monitors or headphones) sound like the jump out to the extreme left and right or even behind you! I know in Cool Edit pro you can change your "stereo width", but I'm not exactly sure how to do this with my Pro Tools system, or even do it with just specific parts of the mix. I hope this makes sense, and any help would be greatly appreciated. If someone has a link to a thread in the past, that would also be great. Thanks in advance!!

Dallas

 

[bsanfordnyc]

I know soundforge has a function that expands the stereo field...

However,
A sound can obviously only be panned as far as hard left or right. Perhaps they are just panned further out than all the other sounds, which are panned closer towards the middle.

as for making a sound seem behind you...i haven't a clue

 

[TexRoadkill]

Psychoacoustics is pretty complicated but you basically have to trick the brain into interpreting the direction of a sound based on a lot of factors. Things like reverb and especially pre-delay settings, high end and low end roll off, compression and relative volume to other tracks can create 3D effects.

 

[dalazz]

Thanks Tex, now does anyone understand how to do that? Or does anyone have any good reading material for something like that?

Dallas

I once went to a masterclass with a guy who (with some rackmount decoder) made surround sound through regular headphones by this method. I think he developed the decoding technology. I wish I knew the guys name, because he had a lot on info on his website.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Here ya go http://www.digido.com/portal/pmodule_id=11/pmdmode=fullscreen/pageadder_page_id=32/

 

[ds21]

Here you go

http://www.3dsoundstore.com/www-3dsoundstore-com/product-qcreator.asp

Or if you want something like the pros use:

http://www.surroundadvertising.com/store-vst/mall/default.asp

Plus one in between:

http://www.3dsoundstore.com/www-3dsoundstore-com/product-qtools.asp

 

[shackrock]

Definately making things be behind you, with headphones - is basically just panning differently. I've even obtained this, on accident. haha.

I strereo miced an acoustic guitar. So, one mic was picking up the guitar at a different level than the other. Not to mention, a totally different sound.

The way I had it panned originally, the volumes we're sounding right. Anyway, I listened to it before I went to bed on headphones, and it was like it was sitting behind me, to the right a little bit.

Just experiment and I think you'll find somethin. haha.

 

[Massive Master]

Keep in mind that anything that sounds like it's coming from beyond the width of the speakers is probably due to phase adjustments - When compressed (by radio) or put in mono, there will be problems.