5.1 channel audio - is it any good?

[b1nuzz]

Hi Guys,

Im getting a new HD camcorder over the next few weeks, an i am interested in finding out how good the surround sound is on the cameras.

Is it really noticable and how accurate is it?

Im not after a review on one camera or another, but just the 5.1 channel chips in general.

Thanks in advance

Ben

[dejongj]

I've had two Sony's with it...Let's just say that it won't be a deciding factor on choosing a camera for me. Great if it is there, not an issue if is not...

[senu]

I dont think it is a "must have". I would rather simulate it in software if that.
If say you were recording a childs school play, it can be very effective at picking sounds of the folk around you
Also not many software preserve it in editing

[jaymac]

Out of interest could you clarify 5:1 surely its only 5 channel sound.

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by jaymac

Out of interest could you clarify 5:1 surely its only 5 channel sound.

You think too much Just like a home cinema amp has got a cross over frequency to send the sound to the subwoofer, the camera will do the same to the .1 channel when recording.

Next question should be what the cross-over frequency is, but I don't know that...

[jaymac]

In 5:1 Subwoofer is a dedicated channel surely not just a question iof everything below a set frequency. It used to be that way prior to 5:1 Sorry this is off topic

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by jaymac

In 5:1 Subwoofer is a dedicated channel surely not just a question iof everything below a set frequency. It used to be that way prior to 5:1 Sorry this is off topic

You are mixing up recording versus playback! What is the microphone supposed to record it from if it does not get some direction regarding its frequency range? The .1 LFE doesn't do the full frequency range....

[jaymac]

My first question was to 5:1 sound doubt if the camcorder can do it as for direction there is none in bass.it might manage an surround which is all Ithink it is

[senu]

It does it as for direction ( hence my comment on picking ambient sound during a school play) > i had it on an old Sony and didnt think much of it even though AVID liquid 7 ( which i use too) actually supports it and you can adjust the channels and pan them in editing to create dramatic effects

What you are right about is that the concept of a LFE .1 channel does not apply to the recording, but just to omnidirectional audio recording
That can result in Strange audio in my limited experience with it

[redsox_mark]

The manufacturers claim "Dolby Digital 5.1ch". Though I don't know how it works in detail.

[jaymac]

I would think it might be worthwhile if you had several mic inputs and static otherwise bit of a gimmik

[senu]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

The manufacturers claim "Dolby Digital 5.1ch". Though I don't know how it works in detail.

Sounds like a marketing "claim"
Does it mean the camcorders electronics filter all the low frequency sounds and route it to a ".1" channel" which is preserved in the videos audio "track" and decodable by a suitable software??
Even if it works, how much better can it be than the surround Dolby which is software generated from a 2 channel stereo source. I think it is, maybe not a gimmick but has limited real world use.. Just my opinion.
I did have on loan for a while in the dim past the Sony HC 1000 which had it ( using a 4 way mic) and it didnt win me over TBH ( to be fair though that comment applied to the whole camcorder not just the audio..)

[jaymac]

I'd agree about probably just as welldoing stereo and a decent sound processor with pro logic would probably equal what the cams mic could do .Found this might be of interest particularly the test ona mini dv
http://www.pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=9831