How do people setup their 5.1 / 2.0 routing when delivering mixes and stems in Nuendo?
I am setting up my template which includes groups, stems (DX, FX and MX) and mixes (Full and M-E) in both 5.1 and 2.0. Does Nuendo automatically create propper folddown levels when routing 5.1 groups to 2.0 stem outputs? My tests seem to confirm that it does, but I was just wondering if this is done automatically?
It looks like the folddown levels are are at 0dB for the L and R channels, C is at -3dB, and Ls and Rs are also at -3dB (I’d prefer -6dB). But Lfe is coming through pretty loud as well, and I would like to control its folddown level to say, -20dB, or even lose the Lfe completele in the downmix.
I want to be able to export all mixes and stems (both 5.1 and 2.0) in one run. I could insert the Mix6to2 plugin to set proper folddown levels, but I can only do this in 5.1 channels, not in 2.0 channels. If I use 5.1 outputs to create 2.0 files they will create files with 6 channels in which only L and R will be filled.
What is your routing when exporting both 5.1 and 2.0 mixes / stems?
-All groups are 5.1
-All “delivery formats” are created as outputs.
===>Route your 5.1 Groups to any delivery format that you need.
For example,
-the 5.1 FX group is routed to: 5.1 M&E, 2.0 M&E, 5.1 FX STEM and 2.0 FX STEM.
-the 5.1 DX Group is routed to; 5.1 Output, 2.0 Output, 5.1 DX STEM and 2.0 DX STEM.
When using DIrect Routing, all of your folddowns will be OK.
Set up Listening channels (Control Room) to any of the outputs.
All of our TV-series projects are standard made in 5.1, even if the client only requires 2.0.
When “Listening” to the Stereo output, you can mix in stereo without caring for the 5.1 mix.
And vice versa.
Yes, Mixconvert (or Mix6to2) works for downloading. But you can’t insert these plugins in a stereo channel (group or output), since the input of it is only two channels by default. Therefore I can’t use a stereo group or output to do the downfold.
I have a similar setup. But how can I control the downfolding levels? For example: how do I control the level (if any) for the Lfe channel? When I route 5.1 groups to 2.0 outputs, the Lfe is still coming through pretty loud.
By the way: I export my stems (5.1 and 2.0) from dedicated group channels, not from output channels. My only output channels are “Mix” 5.1 and 2.0, and “M-E” 5.1 and 2.0.
Mixconvert lowers the volume of the LFE by 3dB. Which is the standard downmix spec.
If the LFE is too loud in the 2.0, then it is also too loud in your 5.1 mix.
Check routings and stuff, something must be wrong.
Double click on the “Panner” in the mixer or inspector. It will open Mixconvert.
I like to keep my projects “clean” and well organized.
As said, all our projects are standard 5.1, so we have 5.1 Groups which are routed to 5.1 and 2.0 outputs.
I never have to think about exporting twice, setting downmix levels, etc …
When you export from your 5.1 groups, you need an additional export in 2.0.
Or you would have to double up all of your Groups in 5.1 and 2.0 groups,
Which also doubles up your processing and leveling in these groups.
Whenever a client wants a 5.1 mix after all, thenI only need to re-balance some of the panning.
Takes me a couple of hours, and I can charge a couple of days.
Thanks for the tips. I never realised there was an option to set levels in the panner pane, I wil check it out.
For my 2.0 mixes I want to be able to control Lfe levels, especially when downfolding theatrical mixes in which Lf effects are louder than what I want in a stereo mix for TV or online.
If you have a 5.1 and 2.0 Output, then you can indeed tweak your levels of the 2.0, and only of the 2.0.
For the TV version (5.1 and/or 2.0) this allows you to insert a compressor in the TV-mix output channels, so you can control dynamics, and you can target different loudness specs.
Nothing but advantages of having your deliveries as Outputs.
Fredo
