I am working on a project in Sonar X1.  The director has asked me to deliver the audio in surround but I don't know how to do this.  Whenever I bounce the audio, it is either a stereo file or two mono files.  Can I get some guidance on how to do surround bounces?  I only have two speakers so that might be another issue. 

You will need a surround encoder to create a surround file. They are not cheap. Also you do need for mixing multiple outs going to multiple speakers.  

Karelm you cannot simply output into 5:1!

In theory you could bounce a stereo mix through a Dolby Pro Logic 2 plug in or something similar to translate in 5:1 but this wouldnt be a true 5:1 mix and then not from Sonar without some serious hardware box in your studio....

You have to mix in 5:1 on a 5:1 system and then bounce down into 6 tracks (Front Left/Right/Centre/Rear Left/Rear Right and LFE). 

Your Director is asking too much from you.

Does he even know his deliverables anyway? How is he going to utilise 5:1 sound on his final project? Is it for BR? Public screening (HDCAMSR/DCP tape?)......

How do I know this? I speak from experience......

Do your mix in stereo and let him worry about the rest.....

I've never done a surround mix, but I've noticed that in X1 there is a "multichannel" option in the export dialog (it's not there in 8.5). What does that do, export each surround bus as a separate mono file, so they can be encoded by a third-party utility?

Of course, the question is moot if you don't have a surround mix in the first place. I don't have an extra $3k for three more speakers, which is why I don't dabble in surround.

Correct. (btw, you could also mix and export in 8.5 as well)

and its 4 more speakers to mix in 5:1 rather than stereo.....

3 front (F/L/C), 2 rear (RL/RR) and 1 bottom(LFE)

:)

bitflipper


I've never done a surround mix, but I've noticed that in X1 there is a "multichannel" option in the export dialog (it's not there in 8.5). What does that do, export each surround bus as a separate mono file, so they can be encoded by a third-party utility?

Of course, the question is moot if you don't have a surround mix in the first place. I don't have an extra $3k for three more speakers, which is why I don't dabble in surround.