Mixing in 5.1
With an increasing number of professionals working in 5.1, we take a closer look at the techniques and practices of surround mixing. Mark Cousins has the lowdown...
Moving from the two-dimensional world of stereo into the sensory experience that is 5.1 is one of the most exhilarating transitions you can make as an engineer or musician. Where once your music lacked depth, separation and spatiality as a stereo mix, in the world of 5.1 it can finally fulfil its previously unheard potential. Most importantly, despite the reserved uptake of 5.1 by the majority of music listeners, surround sound is becoming increasingly important across a range of other media: from film (which, of course, championed and developed the format with Disney’s Fantasia back in the 1940s), to the gaming and broadcast industries. Put simply, even if you’ve avoided creating 5.1 mixes so far, it won’t be long before you will need to move into the realms of 5.1 mixing.
This feature first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 45
