Apple Soundtrack Pro 3 - Manual (Page 347)

Mixer Meters
Each channel strip in the Mixer includes a levels meter capable of displaying up to all six
channels. The Mixer is the only place you can view the levels for each track, bus, and
submix as well as the Master bus.
6-channel meter
Surround Mixing Strategies
This section includes guidelines and tips for mixing surround projects.
Mixing Surround Files
The basic steps in mixing are almost the same for stereo and surround projects:
• Balancing relative volume levels between tracks
• Panning tracks to create a balanced stereo spread
• Adding EQ, compression, and other final processing effects
• Setting the project’s final volume and eliminating clipping
• Creating a sense of perspective by placing sounds in space
While the creating a sense of perspective step is also a part of stereo mixing, it is what
really sets surround apart from stereo. When mixing, you can enhance the video action
by dynamically moving the sounds within the surround field. To give your listeners a
“surrounding” audio experience, your sound must be created with that goal in mind. For
example, if you want the sound of an explosion coming from behind the listener, you
need to put the sound in the rear channels during mixing. Surround mixing adds not
only two rear channels, but also includes the subwoofer or LFE channel, which would
probably play a part in any onscreen explosion. You’ll have to spend some time planning
what elements go where and how much boom you want in your soundtrack.
347 Chapter 13 Mixing Surround Sound