Surround sound - Your views?

[markiegiscool]

Just noticed somebody talking about a surround sound mix in another thread, and just wondered what peoples views of this are.

Are recordings starting to shift towards this rather than stereo?

I can't see it happenning myself, at least for a long while. With Ipods and such like getting more popular by the minute, surround sound mixes would be lost on a lot of today's market. I for one, have no method of listening to them.

I suppose that live shows would benifit most from this. Although I've never listened to one, I imagine you would create the stage at the front of the mix, and various elements of the crowd to the sides and back?

I have read a few articles about companies making surroud sound headphones, that alter the sound depending on where you position your head. But they all looks rather complicated, and like the thing that Doc. Brown makes in Back To The Future.

Has anybody here ever mixed in surround sound?

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by markiegiscool

Has anybody here ever mixed in surround sound?

Yes, many times. The first thing you need is a good surround system - often this is part of a home theater setup. Then buy a few high quality concert DVDs of your favorite bands and you'll immediately understand the appeal and value of surround sound.

--Ethan

[richiebee]

...but isn't that it? It works for concerts, because it helps to give you the depth of that live space. As if you were there. But what do you do with a studio pop record? It seems little more than an effect. Seems like excessive hassle for the return (surround systems in the car aren't the norm (are they?)? What about MP3 player?). It seems to have limited appeal beyond the live concert which should be watched.
I've mixed in surround to create backing tracks for live performance, but never for an audio CD.

[fmw]

Ethan, I don't mean to highjack the thread but I'm wondering if you know about any products that can be installed inside of computer cases to reduce fan noise?

[zildjohn01]

Just buy a quieter fan. Check if it's power supply or cpu fan. The maxcool one at tigerdirect is great (cpu fan, $10 or $15). Couldn't that have been a PM or a new thread in computer nerds?

Back on topic I think there is little value of surround for studio music. Now live concerts and movie scores and stuff is a different story, but I remember you posting rock-ish stuff earlie

[brandondrury]

It seems little more than an effect. Seems like excessive hassle for the return (surround systems in the car aren't the norm (are they?)?

The surround thing thing always seemed like something neat to do. I put that in the league of starting a large fire in the back yard. With that said, the practical benefits are low unless your target audience is really going to utilize the surround sound.

Branodn