ursamtl
28th January 2006, 16:53
This is a basic guide for creating 5.1 files in Steinberg Wavelab 5.x. It uses the V.I Suite plugins but the basic method would be the same if you used non-V.I plugins.
The guide is just text for now. I'll add some graphics or a PDF version once I have more time. This will not teach you how to use Wavelab. It assumes you already know that. If not, learn at least the basics first!
To start with, download and install the following:
V.I Suite 1.1 Installer ( http://stevethomson.ca/audio/guides/VI_Setup.exe) or as a zip file V.I Suite 1.1 Zip file ( http://stevethomson.ca/audio/guides/VI_Setup.zip) (3MB)
Classic Master Limiter (http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-master-limiter.php)
Wavelab does not support the 2-in/6-out V.I plugin, but it does support the 2-in/2-out fLfR, CLFE, and sLsR plugins. Using Wavelab's Audio Montage feature, it's possible to create 6 channels that you can then encode to surround sound using AC3, DTS or other 5.1 encoders. Open stereo source file in Wavelab. Choose Edit > Audio Properties and then choose 32 bit float under Bit Resolution. If you need to change the file's sample rate, do not do it here! If you need to change the sample rate to 48000 as required by DVD projects, choose Process > Convert Sample Rate and then choose 48 000 from the list. Click OK. Press Ctrl+A to select the entire wave file. Choose Process > Eliminate DC Offset. The program scans the file for DC Offset and then prompts you to remove any offsets it finds in either channel. Click OK to do so as this will maximize the amount of theoretical dynamic range available in the file for conversion. Choose Edit > Create Audio Montage from Wave. A dialog box appears with Whole Range selected. Click OK. After the Montage window opens with the audio file in a track, clone the track by click on the small dropdown list with the number "1" and choosing Clone Track or by pressing and holding the Alt key while pressing T, then releasing both and pressing the D key. Repeat this to clone the track a second time and create stereo track 3. In the top left corner of the Montage window under the Edit tab, click Mode and choose Mode DVD-Audio, then return to the same menu and choose 6 channels (Lf, Rf, C, LFE, Ls, Rs). On the left side of each track, you will see a dropdown list button with the label no fx. For each of the three stereo tracks, click this and choose Add Effect Slot then click the Effects button in the dialog box that appears. First add the appropriate V.I Suite plugin as listed below. Then add a second effect slot in the same way for a limiter such as the Kjaerhus Classic Master Limiter I've recommended in the V.I guides.
Track 1: fLfR and Limiter
Track 2: CLFE and Limiter
Track 3: sLsR and Limiter Assign the track outputs to the correct channels by clicking the Lf : Rf under the track number on each stereo track and choosing the correct channels. Important: for the CLFE and surround tracks, be sure to remove the checkboxes beside Left front and Right front because these remain checked even if you check other channels in the dialog box. Once you have set levels, effects, etc., to your liking, click the Render button at the bottom of the master section and then click the wide button across the bottom to set the output file format. In the Audio File Format dialog box that appears, choose the settings appropriate for your surround encoder (bit resolution, etc.) but be sure to set the Channels to Multi Mono. This will create six wave files (Wavelab does not support exporting a 6-channel wave file). If your encoder requires one 6-channel wave file, I recommend Johnman's wavewizard utility, described elsewhere on this forum.This guide is just a basic starting point. If you're familiar with Wavelab or an expert, I'm sure you'll come up with variations that work for you. For example, you may want to split the three montage stereo tracks to six mono tracks and then apply effects as required. Certainly some compression on the LFE track can add some extra bottom end where required. You could add reverb to the rear channels by adding an additional effects slot with a reverb plugin. Always remember to use a limiter plugin AFTER all the others. Experiment. Try feeding sLsR with a reverb plugin. Reverse their order and see what the result sounds like. You could also use other plugins instead of the V.I Suite or in combination with them. For example, there are some voice extractor plugins available that some find effective. These can producing warbling artifacts, so you have to play with their settings to get good results. Anyway, the only limit is your imagination.
Finally, share your results with us here on the forum. Tell us what worked for you. Others will benefit from this community exchanging information.
Enjoy!
Steve.
The guide is just text for now. I'll add some graphics or a PDF version once I have more time. This will not teach you how to use Wavelab. It assumes you already know that. If not, learn at least the basics first!
To start with, download and install the following:
V.I Suite 1.1 Installer ( http://stevethomson.ca/audio/guides/VI_Setup.exe) or as a zip file V.I Suite 1.1 Zip file ( http://stevethomson.ca/audio/guides/VI_Setup.zip) (3MB)
Classic Master Limiter (http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-master-limiter.php)
Wavelab does not support the 2-in/6-out V.I plugin, but it does support the 2-in/2-out fLfR, CLFE, and sLsR plugins. Using Wavelab's Audio Montage feature, it's possible to create 6 channels that you can then encode to surround sound using AC3, DTS or other 5.1 encoders. Open stereo source file in Wavelab. Choose Edit > Audio Properties and then choose 32 bit float under Bit Resolution. If you need to change the file's sample rate, do not do it here! If you need to change the sample rate to 48000 as required by DVD projects, choose Process > Convert Sample Rate and then choose 48 000 from the list. Click OK. Press Ctrl+A to select the entire wave file. Choose Process > Eliminate DC Offset. The program scans the file for DC Offset and then prompts you to remove any offsets it finds in either channel. Click OK to do so as this will maximize the amount of theoretical dynamic range available in the file for conversion. Choose Edit > Create Audio Montage from Wave. A dialog box appears with Whole Range selected. Click OK. After the Montage window opens with the audio file in a track, clone the track by click on the small dropdown list with the number "1" and choosing Clone Track or by pressing and holding the Alt key while pressing T, then releasing both and pressing the D key. Repeat this to clone the track a second time and create stereo track 3. In the top left corner of the Montage window under the Edit tab, click Mode and choose Mode DVD-Audio, then return to the same menu and choose 6 channels (Lf, Rf, C, LFE, Ls, Rs). On the left side of each track, you will see a dropdown list button with the label no fx. For each of the three stereo tracks, click this and choose Add Effect Slot then click the Effects button in the dialog box that appears. First add the appropriate V.I Suite plugin as listed below. Then add a second effect slot in the same way for a limiter such as the Kjaerhus Classic Master Limiter I've recommended in the V.I guides.
Track 1: fLfR and Limiter
Track 2: CLFE and Limiter
Track 3: sLsR and Limiter Assign the track outputs to the correct channels by clicking the Lf : Rf under the track number on each stereo track and choosing the correct channels. Important: for the CLFE and surround tracks, be sure to remove the checkboxes beside Left front and Right front because these remain checked even if you check other channels in the dialog box. Once you have set levels, effects, etc., to your liking, click the Render button at the bottom of the master section and then click the wide button across the bottom to set the output file format. In the Audio File Format dialog box that appears, choose the settings appropriate for your surround encoder (bit resolution, etc.) but be sure to set the Channels to Multi Mono. This will create six wave files (Wavelab does not support exporting a 6-channel wave file). If your encoder requires one 6-channel wave file, I recommend Johnman's wavewizard utility, described elsewhere on this forum.This guide is just a basic starting point. If you're familiar with Wavelab or an expert, I'm sure you'll come up with variations that work for you. For example, you may want to split the three montage stereo tracks to six mono tracks and then apply effects as required. Certainly some compression on the LFE track can add some extra bottom end where required. You could add reverb to the rear channels by adding an additional effects slot with a reverb plugin. Always remember to use a limiter plugin AFTER all the others. Experiment. Try feeding sLsR with a reverb plugin. Reverse their order and see what the result sounds like. You could also use other plugins instead of the V.I Suite or in combination with them. For example, there are some voice extractor plugins available that some find effective. These can producing warbling artifacts, so you have to play with their settings to get good results. Anyway, the only limit is your imagination.
Finally, share your results with us here on the forum. Tell us what worked for you. Others will benefit from this community exchanging information.
Enjoy!
Steve.