wich media to use for on-the-road 3 points diffusion ?

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:03 am

I'm only a stereo-wise guy and wandering !

I need to burn 3 different sound tracks onto "something" to be played on three different monitors in a dramatic theater play.
I can read and play them on my 828, but this ain't a possible solution for road gigs.
What the best and reasonable price audio burning and playing format to use ?

Something like DVD (just 3 of a 5.1 system) with no pictures at all ? SAVCD ? else ?
How to code and burn these respective medias from my DP tracks ?

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:49 am

Know anybody with a cheap multitrack (+multi output) portable recorder? A VHS adat? A good friend of mine has a two identical cd players. When he hits play on one remote, they both start playing at the same time as though they are sync'd and he can A/B mixes - essentially you'd have 4 outputs with this setup.

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:57 am

Thanks jrdmcdnld for that good "2 cd and 1 remote" tip !
But I'm not shure they'll stay pseudo-synced enough for a long 35 minutes play. If they drift, the show is dead !

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:13 am

I don't know anything about them, but DJs have those cd decks that have 2 discs going at once. ????

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:17 pm

How about a 4-track PortaStudio? I've seen them going for as low as $50 used.

BTW, two CD players "should" run at the exact same speed. I'm not an engineer, but either they should be locked to a crystal sync generator, or the line voltage... sort of like how a disconnected film camera and field recorder stay in sync, or how electric clocks all keep the same time. Yes?

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:48 am

any thoughts, or advices, about burning to a 5.1 video media ?
Possible ?
Which tools needed ?

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:37 am

Yeah, a 5.1 mix is definately an option. At this point, I don't think iDVD or iMovie HD support 5.1. That means you're going to buy software or give your 3 way mix to someone who has 5.1 video capability. Pro DV software is high $. Not only that, you're going to need, at the show, a dvd player or computer that has 5.1 output. ...might be easier just to have a little multi-track recorder, but it's up to you.

Best of Luck!

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:21 am

Thanx jrdmcdnld,

DVD 5.1 readers are very cheap hardware pieces around here.
And very easy to find a replacement in case failure on the road.

But what about those video 5.1 softwares ? Which ? How many bucks ?

Basic power included would shure be enough.
All audio would be routed and mixed in three mono stems (say left, right, center) in DP5.11 for creation and rehersal times.

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:27 am

I'm sticking my neck out here giving you advise about video software. but I think this product would work for you;

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... .27.1.13.0

Thats $1300.

If you have a PC, I know there is more affordable software that would accomplish burning 5.1 DVDs.

There are more qualified people on this forum who will chime in any minute........

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:34 am

Try posting your question at the "Post Production" section of this site.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:43 am

Or buy one of the many gently used ADAT-XTs that are being sold for $150 each... heck, buy TWO and have one for a backup. I agree with the people who have said a multi-track machine of some sort may end up being the easiest and best solution.

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:21 pm

Just tried that apple link I put in here and I reallized it's not working. It was supposed to be a link to Apple's "Final Cut Studio" software bundle which includes DVD studio pro 4. With studio pro 4 you can author DVDs that have multiple audio tracks.

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:31 pm

I must admit, your problem has me intrigued. I did a search and came up with this site. Very interesting. Apparently you can burn a standard audio cd as an AC-3 encoded 5.1 mix. It will sound like bursts of white noise if played back in a regular cd/dvd player.

http://www.kellyindustries.com/diy_5_1.html#article

Now I'm going to go see if DP will bounce to AC-3.....

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:14 pm

I've got 4.6. It won't do a direct AC-3bounce, but it will do multichannel. You'd still need an AC-3 encoder.