Hello!
Up until this point I've only created Stereo mixes with my DCPs, but now I'm getting into wanting to create 5.1 Surround sound mixes.
I'm curious...does DCP-o-Matic recognize a WAV file that contains all 6 channels within it? or do I need to bring in 6 separate discreet tracks (one for each speaker channel) and then DCP-o-Matic will recognize those?
I'm also assuming that best practice is to upload or import the video track without original audio and then bring in the audio as a separate file for DCP-o-Matic to pair together? I'm just wondering if the original video file which contains a stereo mix of the audio would confuse the program if I didn't want to use that audio but instead use the 5.1 audio tracks.
Does any of this make sense?
Thank you very much for any insight given!
Best,
Ian
DCP-o-matic will recognise all common formats - multitrack, multistream, or singlestream/singletrack files. I recommend using multitrack files, it makes adjustments easier. You just need to make sure you know the channel order/5.1 layout of your file. Standard is L/R/C/LFE/LS/RS.
If you have the master under control, it's usually best to import a combined/interleaved video+audio file.
If you need a stereo track in it as well for reference purposes, you can put it in input channels 7 and 8 and mute them in the audio matrix.
Some people suggest that for proper DCP mastering, you need to follow workflows mimicking those of professional post houses - separate video files or even image series, reels, single track audio files, etc. But that's BS. A proper interleaved combined AV file is best. Professional editing software usually has no problem to output files that cause no issues in DCP-o-matic.
The more complex your input file layout is, the more problems you get in DCP-o-matic.
Make yourself familiar with the audio matrix in DCP-o-matic. It is very easy to route or disable individual tracks.
Thank you!
One more question:
If I import the MOV file that currently has the stereo mix and then also import the WAV file that is just the 6 channels of Surround Sound audio mix will the audio "double up" if I don't uncheck the audio from the MOV file when creating my DCP?
So in other words, highlight the MOV file and go to the audio tab and uncheck the green boxes in the audio matrix (stereo L and R)
and then leave all 6 green boxes in place from the 5.1 mix so that the DCP will then use that audio?
I was just thinking on a previous DCP that I made if it was "too hot" because I actually had 2 audio files that were then doubled up on the DCP
It's affirmative for all your questions (that are, actually, one and the same).
A very helpful tool, even though it can be time-consuming, is the "show graph of audio levels..." on audio.
If you are importing more than one audio sources, you might want to use it on the "DCP>Audio" tab.
If you have just the one, you can use it on the "Content>Audio" tab.
One tip, when you have the graph open, do not change the gain on a discrete channel or one of the audio sources. The system will start re-calculating with no warning. If you have many different changes to do, close the graph and open it again after the changes are made.
IanTilson wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:04 am
If I import the MOV file that currently has the stereo mix and then also import the WAV file that is just the 6 channels of Surround Sound audio mix will the audio "double up" if I don't uncheck the audio from the MOV file when creating my DCP?
Yes, if you do not want the stereo content to end up in your DCP, you have to mute it within the matrix.
