Using surround format templates

A Surround Format template specifies the number of speakers and the order in which the speakers are arranged.

There are several different surround formats, including LCRS, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1, with 5.1 being most common. The number after the decimal point refers to the number of Low Frequency Effect (LFE) speakers. However, there are even different flavors of 5.1. The different flavors specify in which order the speakers are arranged, and the speaker angles. For example:

 

Surround Format	Speaker Order
5.1 SMPTE/ITU	L, R, C, LFE, Ls, Rs
5.1 Music Alternative	L, R, Ls, Rs, C, LFE
5.1 Film Alternative	L, C, R, Ls, Rs, LFE

The speaker positions, moving clockwise from center, are identified as:

 

Label	Speaker
C	Center (directly in front of listener)
Rc	Right of Center
R	Right (standard Stereo placement)
Sr	Side right—directly to the right of the listener
Rs	Right Surround
Cs	Surround (rear center)
Ls	Left Surround
Sl	Side Left—directly to the left of the listener
L	Left (standard Stereo placement)
Lc	Left of center
LFE	Low Frequency Effect speaker(s)—placed according to room acoustics

To mix in surround sound in Sonar, you must insert at least one surround bus.

A project can include multiple surround buses, but all surround buses in a project use the same surround format (5.1, 7.1, etc.).

The project’s surround format is based on one of the following Surround Format templates:

2.0

2.1

LCR

LRC+LFE

LRS

LFS+LFE

Matrix UHJ

QUAD

4.1 (SMPTE/ITU)

Quad+LFE

PanAmbio 4.1

LCRS

Surround (SMPTE/ITU)

Surround Media

LCRS+LFE

5.1 (Standard 3/2)

5.1 (Film/Alternative)

5.1 (Music/Alternative)

5.1 (SMPTE/ITU)

6.0 (Hexagon)

6.0 (Film/Alternative)

6.0 (Music/Alternative)

6.1 (Film/Alternative)

6.1 (Music/Alternative)

6.1 (SMPTE/ITU)

7.0 (Heptagon)

7.0 (Film/Alternative)

7.0 (Music/Alternative)

7.1 (Film/Alternative)

7.1 (Music/Alternative)

7.1 (SMPTE/ITU)

8.0 (Octagon)

8.0 (Film/Alternative)

8.0 (Music/Alternative)

8.1 (Film/Alternative)

8.1 (Music/Alternative)

8.1 (SMPTE/ITU)

5.1 (SMPTE/ITU) is the default template.

The Surround Format templates are hard-coded, and cannot be deleted. However, you can freely assign any enabled audio output port to any surround channel, and save the configuration as a preset.

Surround settings are per project. Surround speaker assignments default to unique audio output channels when you choose a new template.

To configure surround settings, go to Edit > Preferences > Project - Surround.

 

See:

Choosing a surround format