Exporting a 5.1 surround sound sequence

5.1 in Premiere is poorly implemented. I have found this out the hard way making DCP files for cinema use and there are a number of gotchas.

1 - You need to set up the output buss as a pproper 5.1 buss, and then you must route all the audio to the correct channels with the panner, or it just will not work on export. So left needs to be left, centre to centre, right to right, LFE needs to have the LFE feed up & all 5 main channels muted and the rears must be correctly panned. Check playback - if you can hear the mix properly it will export properly.

2 - Do not, ever, use 16-bit as it is pointless. Use 24-bit 48kHz as a minimum. 24-bit is 48dB quieter than 16-bit, and with modern loudness monitoring you need to be aware that going too close to 0dBFS is also a very bad idea indeed.

3 - For Blu-ray, and this cannot be overstated sufficiently - forget all about Dolby Digital / AC3. This codec is not your friend, and using this codec will change the way your mix sounds - this is absolutely guaranteed - unless you understand the way that AC3 metadata works, especially DRC and Dialnorm parameters & Mix Information.

You should be exporting to a lossless 6-channel output, and then encoding to either DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby True HD, bearing in mind the vagaries of lossless surround in Blu-ray being utterly dependent on the correct audio connections being used.

If you would like more detailed information on this, I will be happy to try & walk you through it - but the most important thing you must do is set up & calibrate a 5.1 mix system so you cann hear what is happening. You cannot run a 5.1 mix without listening to it, as this is asking for all sorts of trouble. Monitor systems for this should be proper setups, with the 5 main channels all the same make & model and full range (with a minimum frequency response to 40Hz and an upper minimum of 22.5kHz) and if you need LFE channel then you will need a correctly set up LFE - which is not the same thing as a subwoofer, although it is often confused with such.

Please go and get this document all about Surround Sound & the correct recommendations for getting this right from the RPGA, as it explains everything you need to know. Surround mixing is the most fun you can have, but it is not a simple thing to do.

What video format is your export. is your sequence 5.1?