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Adobe Premiere Pro
Create a 5.1 surround audio sequence
You can use Adobe® Premiere® Pro to mix 5.1 surround 1. Create a sequence with a 5.1 surround audio
audio, such as soundtracks for DVD content or theat- master track.
rical motion pictures. In the Project window, click the New Item button, and
To properly monitor 5.1 surround audio, your choose Sequence. For Master, choose 5.1. (The master
computer must have audio hardware that fully complies track of a sequence must be 5.1 surround for you to mix
with the ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) specifi- 5.1 surround audio.) For Mono, Stereo, and 5.1, specify
cation, that’s connected to a complete set of 5.1 the number of each type of track you need for the
surround speakers, and that’s capable of 6-channel source audio you have. Set the other options as desired,
output. If your audio hardware doesn’t meet these and then click OK.
requirements, Adobe Premiere Pro must downmix the
5.1 channels to the two channels in your stereo speakers
or headphones, and you won’t hear surround sound
properly.
2. Import audio clips.
Choose File > Import, select one or more audio tracks,
and click Open.
You can also create clips or a 5.1 surround audio mix
using Adobe Audition™ and import it into Adobe
Premiere Pro. In addition, if you export the Audition
audio file using the Project Link option, later you can
use the Edit Original command in Adobe Premiere Pro
to open the Audition project that created the audio file.
Tutorial
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO 2
Create a 5.1 surround audio sequence
3. Add audio clips to the sequence. 4. Open the Audio Mixer window.
Drag audio clips from the Project window to the 5.1 Choose Window > Audio Mixer to open the Audio
surround sequence in the Timeline window. You can Mixer window, which contains controls for adjusting
drag an audio clip only to a track with the same number track volume levels, panning or balancing tracks, and
of channels, so if necessary choose Sequence > Add applying effects.
Tracks to add new tracks containing the number of
channels that match the clips you want to import.
You can position monophonic clips anywhere within
the 5.1 surround audio field, while stereo clips can only
be balanced, and the channels of 5.1 surround clips are
simply passed on to the master tracks without modifi-
cation.
5. Enable automation recording, and start
playback.
On the Automation Options pop-up menu for the track
you want to adjust, choose Write, Latch, or Touch. Click
the Play button in the Audio Mixer window to hear the
current mix. As you mix audio, you may want to click
the Loop button so that you can make adjustments over
repeated passes (use Touch mode so that you change
only the existing mix when you actually alter settings).
Tutorial
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO 3
Create a 5.1 surround audio sequence
Write mode records Audio Mixer settings at all times If you added any 5.1 surround audio tracks to the
during playback. Latch mode doesn’t start recording sequence, a pan/balance tray isn’t available for those
settings until you change a setting. Touch mode is like tracks. When a 5.1 surround audio track outputs to a
Latch except that it returns settings to their previous 5.1 master track, each track channel outputs directly to
state whenever you stop adjusting during playback. each corresponding master track channel.
These automation options record changes you make in
the Audio Mixer as the sequence audio plays back.
7. Adjust the center channel percentage.
Make sure that each track's automation option is set as
6. Pan or balance the audio tracks within the 5.1 desired, and then click the Play button. Adjust the
master track. strength of the center channel by turning the knob next
Make sure that each track's automation option is set as to the top right corner of the tray.
desired, and then click the Play button. Drag the puck
Because the center speaker is often used to enhance
within the 5.1 surround tray (which appears above the
dialog, you might want to reduce the center channel
volume meters), or snap the puck to any of the corner
percentage of non-dialog tracks, such as a musical
pockets.
sound track, to keep them out of the center speaker.
You use the tray to position a mono audio track or
balance a stereo audio track within the 5.1 surround
audio field created by the sequence’s master track.
Pockets at each corner and at the front center of the tray
represent channels within the surround audio field.
Tutorial
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO 4
Create a 5.1 surround audio sequence
8. Adjust the LFE volume. 9. Evaluate the results.
Make sure that each track's automation option is set as On the Automation Options pop-up menu, choose
desired, and then click the Play button. Adjust the Read to be able to play back the recorded automation
strength of the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel by settings without altering them. As needed, switch back
turning the knob labeled with a bass clef. The LFE signal to Write, Latch, or Touch mode, and continue adjusting
is normally routed to a subwoofer speaker to enhance positions and levels until you’re satisfied with the result.
very low frequencies (deep bass, generally under 120 When you’re finished, be sure to leave the Automation
Hz). Options pop-up menu set to Read.
The steps in this tutorial are just a starting point,
because there are many approaches to mixing 5.1
surround audio. For example, mixing a symphony
orchestra for a CD is very different from mixing the
audio for an action movie.
Adobe, the Adobe logo, and Premiere are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or
other countries.
©2003 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.
