How do I get 6.1 surround sound from a stereo file with Logic Pro?

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Level 1

8 points

How do I get 6.1 surround sound from a stereo file with Logic Pro?

Hi all,

In Logic Pro I have one track which is in stereo. I'm using the panner to point the sound into the middle so it will fill the room when you listen to it. When I export I need to have it be split into the 7 channels that make up 6.1. I've configured the track to surround. I've gone Preferences/Audio/Surround and selected 6.1 (ES/EX). I've gone Settings/Audio/Surround Format: 6.1 (ES/EX). I've clicked on Bounce in the Master Channel, ticked Surround Bounce, File Type: Split, File Format: Wave (or AIFF- I've tried with both), under Destination- PCM is ticked.

Once bounced I end up with 2 files- The track name with L and the track name with R. What I am trying to get is: TrackL, TrackC, TrackR, TrackLFE, TrackLS, TrackS, Track RS - 7 tracks. I need the 7 files so I can put them into the appropriate channels in DTS Master Audio Suite.

Bottom line is, the above is not working so I need someone to please help by talking it through from scratch.

Note that my iMac is connected to an Onkyo amplifier and I know I've got the computer audio set up right because 5.1 surround panning works great in Soundtrack Pro. In Logic Pro for some reason when I pan to the surround left for example it only goes to the front left.

Any ideas where I'm going wrong?

iMac (Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Feb 14, 2011 5:13 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 14, 2011 5:30 AM in response to emotionboy

Hi,

Logic Pro will only bounce a surround audio file if a surround capable interface is connected, in your case an interface with at least 8 outputs.

Build In audio provides only stereo out, even when using the digital output.

Best,
21th

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Answer 2

emotionboy Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2011 9:32 AM in response to 21th Century

Century could you please clarify your answer- what do you mean by surround capable interface? Do you mean create 8 tracks? (If so do I duplicate the stereo track in each one, or use one and leave the rest empty?). Another piece of software? Why would Soundtrack Pro work and not Logic Pro? My amplifier decodes surround. Confused by your answer- please can you explain.

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Answer 3

Feb 14, 2011 9:47 AM in response to emotionboy

Hi,

Logic Pro will only bounce to surround if a audio hardware is connected and engaged (Audio Preferences) that comes with enough discrete outputs for all discrete surround output channels. In your case (6.1) there should be at least 7 outputs available for the 6 surround channels and the LFE.
You are defining the discrete surround outputs for all available surround formats within the Audio Preferences too.
There is no realtime AC-3 (Dolby Digital) or DTS encoding taking place in Logic Pro - this would be necessary to make a direct connection to your surround receiver via SPDIF digital work.

No need to create more tracks, a stereo track with a surround output/panner will work just fine if a surround capable audio hardware is used. "Build In" audio alone will definitely not work.

Best,
21th

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Answer 4

emotionboy Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2011 10:41 AM in response to 21th Century

Thanks for the feedback. The question is still: how do I get a 6.1 surround sound from a stereo file with Logic Pro?

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Answer 5

emotionboy Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2011 11:05 AM in response to emotionboy

Oh as a sidenote I'm not getting 5.1 either from Logic Pro. I get 5.1 and the split files in Soundtrack Pro fine which is why I would like someone to please give me details of the complete Logic Pro 8 surround setup from scratch.

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Answer 6

Feb 14, 2011 11:15 AM in response to emotionboy

emotionboy wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. The question is still: how do I get a 6.1 surround sound from a stereo file with Logic Pro?

I do give up now... but wait, one last attempt:

What exactly do you mean with "surround sound":

a. An interleaved or split surround file with 7 channels (6.1)

or

b. A compressed encoded surround file that can be burned to a DVD or played back via a capable app by using the digital output of your MAC connected to the digital input of your surround receiver (receiver does the decoding)?

In case of a. you will need a audio interface like the Fireface 800, Ensemble or whatever - these interfaces are coming with a sufficient number of audio outputs for surround.
You will be able to convert the bounced surround PCM audio file afterwards to a compressed AC-3 (Dolby Digital) file by using "Compressor" (Compressor is part of the Logic Studio bundle and is capable of converting all kind of audio and video files).

If b. then you definitely have to perform the steps described under a. and burn a DVD afterwards or use a video app that is capable of streaming the AC-3 file out of your MACs digital output.

Best,
21th

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Answer 7

emotionboy Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2011 11:46 AM in response to 21th Century

A.

I don't suppose you have cheaper suggestions than Fireface 800.

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Answer 8

Feb 14, 2011 3:12 PM in response to 21th Century

21th Century wrote:
Logic Pro will only bounce to surround if a audio hardware is connected and engaged (Audio Preferences) that comes with enough discrete outputs for all discrete surround output channels.

Not doubting this advice--I've never worked with surround in Logic.

But surprising/disappointing if there's really no workaround for this. Generally, Logic is good about working independently of hardware: e.g. when you open a session that sends to 8 hardware channels, but only the internal sound card is available, the session opens and the extra outputs are simply disabled... you can still work with all the outputs by reassigning them, etc.

There's no way to bounce a surround mix by creating Aux busses with no physical outputs, eh ?

-James

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Answer 9

Feb 14, 2011 3:27 PM in response to emotionboy

i am using a motu ultralite and it has 10 output channels. it costs only 1/3rd of a fireface and i have not complaints about it.

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Answer 10

Feb 15, 2011 3:26 AM in response to jnashguitar

Not doubting this advice--I've never worked with surround in Logic.

But surprising/disappointing if there's really no workaround for this. Generally, Logic is good about working independently of hardware: e.g. when you open a session that sends to 8 hardware channels, but only the internal sound card is available, the session opens and the extra outputs are simply disabled... you can still work with all the outputs by reassigning them, etc.

There's no way to bounce a surround mix by creating Aux busses with no physical outputs, eh ?

-James

Hi James,

Logic Pro will open a surround project on a "stereo only" computer, but only the "L" and "R" channels are audible, all other surround channels will remain silent until you are inserting a "Downmixer" plugin to the surround Master Fader. Creating Auxes doesn't help, Logic Pro is in need of discrete audio outputs for each surround channel. But this may not be the last word on this, who knows...:o)

Maybe Logic X or XI...

Best,
21th

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Answer 11

Andy Ry

Level 1

30 points

Feb 15, 2011 7:00 AM in response to emotionboy

Use compressor.

Right click on a new batch - choose Source/Surround Sound Group. You can import each file singly.

Of course, you'll need to create a third file with silence to assign to the 5 other channels.

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Answer 12

Feb 15, 2011 7:46 AM in response to emotionboy

I haven't tried it, but SoundFlower has a virtual multi channel device that you might be able to use to assign outputs in logic. Then you should be able to bounce surround mixes.

Cheers,

Jazz

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Answer 13

emotionboy Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 4, 2011 7:43 AM in response to Jazzmaniac

Hi Jazzmaniac,

I haven't checked back in on this question for a while.

I just wanted to say that your suggestion to use Sunflower as virtual surround is the option that actually worked- I was finally able to bounce all individual files and achieve 6.1 and even 7.1 as Sunflower allows up to 16 channels.

So thank you.

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