mixing for suround video

Clare,

A couple of questions:
What soundcard are you using? What drivers are installed for it? What video
editing program (NLE) are you using? What audio editing program are you using?

Depending on how your audio system is configured, you might have to adjust your
settings in the soundcard driver's control panel, accessed from the Windows
Control Panel. For instance, my Realtec OB chip uses Creative Soundblaster
24-bit Live drivers and all of my Surround Sound settings are done from its
interface.

You will also need to have all the necessary speakers connected, but this is
pretty obvious.

For use of Dolby Surround 5.1 Sound in Encore, you then need to take Harm's
advice and use the SurCode 5.1 Encoder in your NLE, to export to WMA or AC3
audio. I always Export as primary streams: video to DV-AVI (no Audio) and AC3
(5.1 Surround) for Importing into Encore.

In response to your post in the 5.1 article, as Joe Bowden points out, Encore
will only "passthrough" Dobly 5.1 for monitoring purposes, but will
handle it well, when you burn to DVD.

If you use Premiere Pro as an NLE, you might want to take a look at:
 <http://www.adobe.com/ap/tips/prepsurround/page2.html>

Even if you use other software, this might be of a big help. Also see the
Premiere Pro-wiki: <http://ppro.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page>

and do a search for "Surround Sound." I do not have that particular
page bookmarked, but there is good material on production of Dolby 5.1 in the
wiki.

Also, there are several good posts on 5.1 Surround Sound in this forum, with
some great contributions by Neil Wilkes. Do a search of this forum and read and
read. Also, if you are not finding all that you need with your search, find any
article by Neil Wilkes, and click on his name. That will reveal his most recent
posts.

Let's address your system's setup first, then you can do a bunch of fun reading
on going to the next step. See the "questions" at the top of my post.

Hi Bill,

I use the gateway computer audio card. It has surround sound blaster card with
three outputs. I have stereo setup but would like to put a subwoofer. I edit
video using premiere 1.5. I need better speakers for 5.1. I have only stereo
outputs in the master sound device setup window. Does premiere 2 or 3 give more
channels for surround? My video now is about dangers of prescription drugs and
some interviews have outside and wind is heard in the audio file. You hear it
only in home theatre sound system.

Thank you for helping me,

I do not know Premiere 1.x or CS3, but PP2 (CS2 Production Studio, in my case)
has full 5.1 Surround Mixing.

My guess is that your Gateway's MoBo probably has a RealTec audio chip and uses
the Creative SB software to control it, like mine does. Open your SB control
panel, and take a look at all of the tabs. I cannot recall the exact one for
Surround, and your's might be different. Mine has a speaker test utility to
assure that all is hooked up correctly and performing. It also allows one to
turn off Surround, or configure up to 7.1, if one has the right chip and
connections/speakers. Mine is only 5.1.