Paths In Surround Mixes - DigiDesign Pro Tools Reference Manual

Paths in Surround Mixes

Because Pro Tools provides a flexible routing
and submixing environment, you can maximize
your system's available resources by first identi-
fying the elements that you want to pan dynam-
ically and those that can be placed in certain
channels only (see "Mixing with Paths and Sub-
Paths" on page 712).
Once you have identified these elements in your
session, you can use a combination of main and
sub-path assignments, and multichannel pan-
ning.
Mixing with Paths and Sub-Paths
It is rare that every track needs to be "flown" (ac-
tively panned in between more than a pair of
speakers). In most situations, certain elements
are placed in certain speakers and remain there,
providing the foundation for a mix.
Figure 33 on page 713 illustrates an example of
how panning and signal routing can be com-
bined in a multichannel mix. The following sec-
tions describe how to organize your session and
signal routing to maximize the available re-
sources.
See "Extending Stereo Mixing Conventions
to Surround Mixing" on page 713 for re-
lated information.
712 Pro Tools Reference Guide
When to Assign Multichannel Outputs
Assign 5.1 paths only to those tracks that need
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to be panned to all six channels.
For example, a sound effects track with a jet fly-
over should be assigned a 5.1 path to be able to
fly the sound from front-to-back. In a music
mix, you can fly a solo instrument or make a
synth pad swirl around the room as a special ef-
fect.
Elements that need to be heard in all speakers si-
multaneously can also be assigned to the multi-
channel output, whether or not they need ac-
tive panning in the sound field.
When to Use Sub-Paths
To help simplify large sessions, use sub-paths
■
to route static (or, stationary) elements directly
to the output channel or channels.
For example, film dialog is often mixed to the
center channel to anchor this essential sound el-
ement to the picture. Instead of assigning a six-
channel panner to dialog tracks and panning
the tracks to the center speaker only, you can
route the dialog track's main output to a mono
(Center) sub-path.