3.1 remixes - Why not?

There are some folks here who are not fond of 5.1 mixes, especially when discrete instruments or voices appear in the rear channels. I happen to like it that way, but not in every instance. It really depends on the material.

What I would like to know is why are there not more 3.1 remixes. I mean, if people prefer their music "up front", can't the soundfield be better defined if the center channel is used?

What do you guys think about a 3.1 mix?

 

True, but the .1 is the Subwoofer, its not really a discrete track, so really, 3.0 = 3.1

 

It CAN be

After listening to many Quad mixes of the 70', making a 3.1 mix would not be very exciting. Besides, a stereo picture is supposed to create a good center presence when done correctly.

 

Y'know, Ken.......in any 5.1 mix, you can turn the rears off (as I do once in awhile) and there you have your 3.0 mix. Some of them are exactly as you asked, the three tracks right off the multi, left, right and center.

 

This type of mix was available on a few of the Dolby Surround music mixes, but I don't think it really went anywhere since Dolby Digital took over. So, a 3.1 mix cannot be folded-down in Dolby Digital?

 

Wouldn't you lose a lot of ambiance by doing this?

 

Well, it all depends on how it was mixed. In some cases, you would be hearing only the three tracks as they were on the multi...and I think thats what Ken was asking in the first place.

 

But Ken, nothing is in its final mixed form in Three Tracks. If its "mixed" with effects, eq, etc, its two track or mono.

You must be referring to a stereo mix with information in the center of the stereo image, but even so, that would still be a two track mix.

 

I did. Gotcha Ken.

Altho I cant imagine there are all that many like that, ready to go from the three track. But for the ones there are, terrific.