Comments

cosmo wrote on 3/28/2004, 1:24 PM
What version of Vegas are you running? If it's 4.0 you don't need anything else to MIX 5.1 surround. You will of course need a soundcard that support 6 channel audio - and NOT a SoundBlaster 5.1 card or any other SB card. isay that only to impress the importance of steering clear of SB...too many headaches around here. There are much better alternatives. Look into Echo, M-Audio and the like in the pro card arena.

With Vegas 4, a 6 channel(out) sound card, and a 6 channel direct monitoring system you'll be in business. Your card and monitoring system depend entirely on budget. You can monitor with anything from a home theatre system with direct analog inputs to a BlueSky high end 5.1 monitoring system.

After mixing, you'll render the file to .ac3 format. This can be used to burn onto DVD as simply an ac3 audio file in 5.1, or attached to some sort of video. I use DVD architect to encode but that isn't your only option. Any good DVD authoring application should be able to encode 5.1 from an ac3 file. ac3 files can also be played back through the pc through a 5.1 decoding card.

Vegas handles all of the 5.1 output mixing though. If you check the audio preferences set up you'll see where you can send 1/2 to wherever, 3/4 and 5/6 to where they need to go from your card. It isn't too hard.
JimT wrote on 3/28/2004, 4:13 PM
I'm running Vegas Audio 2.0h. I currently have a Delta Audiophile2496, but it looks like I'll nee to switch to something else such as the Delta 66 or Revolution 7.1 card...or find some sort of surround decoder to run the SPDIF output from my 2496 through it. Either way I guess.

I think your reply was assuming that I have Vegas Video. I only have the Vegas Audio. If I get the 5.1 plugin pack for Vegas Audio, will I be in good shape to encode in surround?
pwppch wrote on 3/28/2004, 4:19 PM
To be clear here:

Vegas requires that your audio card has 6 discreet outputs. Vegas will NOT stream encoded 5.1 channel audio through a digital SPDIF or lightpipe output. The audio Vegas streams is always simple PCM data. Only the rendered audio is encoded into 5.1 Dolby Digital (AC3) audio.

So, you cannot use the 24/96 SPDIF output to monitor surround audio from Vegas in realtime as this is only a "stereo pair" to Vegas.

Peter
JimT wrote on 3/28/2004, 4:26 PM
Okay, that answers that question. I'll get the Delta 66 (6-In/6-Out Audio Card) and plug each speaker into the outputs of that.

Will the 5.1 Plugin Pack work with Vegas Audio? Will I need anything else to get the job done?
Greg_M wrote on 3/28/2004, 8:59 PM
How much does the AC-3 encoder plug-in cost?

Greg
cosmo wrote on 3/29/2004, 6:32 AM
$280. Does V2 mix surround?