Chapter 33: Multichannel Tracks and Signal Routing (Pro Tools HD Only)
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Extending Stereo Mixing Conventions to
Surround Mixing
Stereo mixing sets the precedent for active and
static panning, and surround mixing can bene-
fit from the same basic principles.
Panning a sound back-and-forth between the
left and right speakers is best used as a special ef-
fect. In a typical music mix, the basic tracks are
placed in the stereo sound field and remain
there.
Surround mixes can become incoherent if too
many elements are continuously moving, For
special effects, some tracks can be panned
dy-
namically,
bouncing between speakers or sweep-
ing from one side to the other.
Figure 40. Using signal routing and sub-paths to mix in surround
Tracks routed to sub-paths Tracks panned in 3D
Bus
routing
Main
output to
sub-paths
Main outputs to 5.1 paths for surround panning
Auxiliary Input
routed to main
paths