Anyone mixing music in 5.1?

[joshuarlyon]

I'm going to be mixing my EP in 5.1 with a good friend of mine who does audio for films.

Any reason I shouldn't do this?

The final mix will be bounced stereo for mass use, but does anyone else think it to be a good idea to mix in 5.1 for say... a dvd of a music video or whatnot? Why hasn't music gone this direction yet?

I dream of the day that I can bounce in 5.1... then have whatever playback system (stereo, dvd player, etc.) detect whether or not it can play 5.1 or stereo, then choose the appropriate one...

[psycho_monkey]

Whatever you do, do a good stereo mix first - don't just fold down the 5.1.

No reason not to do a 5.1 unless it's costing you money to do it, in which case it's probably just for vanity. Chances of actually needing it for anything is pretty small.

[joshuarlyon]

But what about the fuuuuutuuuuure

[esaias]

Originally Posted by joshuarlyon

But what about the fuuuuutuuuuure

5.1 for music came and went already.

truth is not too many people like to sit in a 5.1 speaker configuration, and even fewer people actuall have decent 5.1 set-ups.

pair of earbuds and laptop-speakers became to be the future of digital music.

-tomi

[t.o.t.s.]

"Any reason I shouldn't do this?"
Generally I answer this with "you only have two ears" but I think what esaias said is the most accurate reason.

Personally I have always thought mixing for more than two channels was very gimmicky. Even in a theater I find it mostly annoying.

[ctms777]

Depends on what market you're mixing for...

Music for HDTV (concerts)-> Surround mandatory
Music for DVD or Blu Ray (concerts)-> Surround is expected

[Electric Motel]

Originally Posted by t.o.t.s.

"Any reason I shouldn't do this?"
Generally I answer this with "you only have two ears" but I think what esaias said is the most accurate reason.

Personally I have always thought mixing for more than two channels was very gimmicky. Even in a theater I find it mostly annoying.

How do you know the OP only has two ears? That was never mentioned. He may actually have 5.1 ears.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by joshuarlyon

I'm going to be mixing my EP in 5.1 with a good friend of mine who does audio for films. Any reason I shouldn't do this?

I think 5.1 surround mixes are best used to accompany video on DVD. Not many people have a way to play 5.1 on their non-video systems. But those who can play 5.1 already have their seating worked out, so that's no reason not to mix in surround. I do agree with the advice to make separate 5.1 and stereo mixes, rather than try to devise stereo from the 5.1 mix. Hey, at least try one song and see how it comes out!

--Ethan