I routinely use ProTools to mix B+ . All the decode is done in a
separate computer that takes l/r and B format and will decode to 10, 12
or 16 positions. If you do not use Z is will do horizontal only
ambisonics.
ThomasChen
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Hunt <davehuntau...@btinternet.com>
To: sursound@music.vt.edu
Sent: Fri, Feb 25, 2011 1:57 am
Subject: [Sursound] B format recording
Hi
From: Chris Cody <c.c...@anam.com.au>
Subject: [Sursound] B format recording
Does anybody know weather it is possible to record and mix B format >
in Pro
Tools 9? I have been looking around for a plugin, with not much >
luck. It
appears SoundField have one, but I can;t find out if it is >
compatible with
PT9 (only PT8HD or VST) I have just started teching at a venue with >
a pro
tools rig, and while I despise it, I think I'm stuck with it for >
the time
being.
ProTools 9, like ProTools LE, has a fairly limiting stereo architecture
for ambisonic work. I have made some RTAS plug-ins that can work around
it, using Max 4, so they're Pluggo plug-ins.
They use a hidden 4-channel bus, so are not entirely straight-forward
to use. The panners for example (mono and stereo in) have a 4-channel
B-format output that bypasses the channel fader. You then have to use
two stereo aux input channels to pick up this B-format and pass it to
the outputs, or use a decoder that is made up of stereo aux channels
with a series of plug-ins to decode to pairs of speakers. Luckily, as
PT 9 can use any interface, including Soundflower on the same computer,
you can forget the decoder plug-ins, just output B-format and use an
external software decoder. Mine is now built in Max 5, and can do up to
16 loudspeakers.
B-format signals have to be split into four mono files by ProTools (I
think it will import these, though its easy to do in Audacity). If
using an external decoder, these can be routed to the B-format output.
You can drag two mono files onto a stereo track if it makes things
easier. Just ensure that all files are all positioned to start at
exactly the same time before doing any editing (click on one, then ctrl
click on the one you want to align to it). You shouldn't have this
problem as all tracks, including the mono/stereo ones comprising
B-format will all be recorded together and start at the same time. Then
group all tracks together in the Edit window. Otherwise I managed to
make a plug in of two halves to manipulate B-format, along the lines of
the panners.
One big problem is that Max 4 never got to dealing with multiple cores,
so you are restricted to one RTAS processor, otherwise it starts
glitching and crackling as the load on that processor gets heavy.
While I don't have the gear to do surround at the moment, I would
like to have the B format stuff sussed in stereo first so that I >
can upgrade
later in the year.
You can just use a two speaker decoder.
Basically what I need is:
A way to mix any additional spot mics or solo mics into the B format
universe
A way to mix the B format from the soundfield and spot mics into >
mono/stereo
(upgradeable to surround)
All using pro tools 9. :(
It can be done, but something else like Reaper would probably be
easier. Even though my plug-ins work until the processor load gets
high, I find other programs better for ambisonics. Even Logic which is
pretty crippled except for really basic mixing of B-format and mono and
stereo into B-format
If Pro Tools isn't an option, what do you recommend that will work >
with a
digi 002? (until I can upgrade and remove digidesign rubbish from >
my life
all together)
Though I too have reservations about the quality of the audio from the
Digi 002, I have used ProTools for many years, and it is still my DAW
of choice. All the others have come round to trying to emulate it, with
varying degees of success. It was made to do audio, whereas most of the
others grew from Midi workstations. It is powerful with good file
handling, a minimum of screen clutter, and is fairly easy to learn and
to use. However it is not a particularly good host for ambisonic work.
The full toolkit might make it better, but it costs an arm and a leg.
Ciao,
Dave Hunt
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