Instruction for Resolve 18
(updated March 9th 2023)
Instruction for Resolve 17 is here: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356&p=930530#p930530
Instruction for Resolve 16 is here: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356#p772896
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Hi community,
I didn’t find a source that singlehandedly fully explained how to achieve a correct 5.1 surround sound mapping with mono audio tracks for DCP export in DaVinci Resolve Studio, so I wrote a short instruction on how to do it in the most easy way I could find.
My knowledge is composed of different sources from this forum, external websites and my own testing.
Results have been tested and validated in a real cinema.
1) Import your 6 mono audio files.
2) In the Edit Page, in the timeline from which you’ll export your DCP, you need to have as many mono audio tracks, as you have mono audio files, which is 6.
3) Put your 6 mono audio files on the mono audio tracks in the correct order, which is:
A1: Left
A2: Right
A3: Center
A4: LFE
A5: Surround Left
A6: Surround Right
4) In the Fairlight Page select all 6 mono audio tracks (A1 – A6). In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Link Group...”. In the window that pops up, select all 6 mono audio tracks (A1 – A6) and click on "Link as..." –> "5.1" (not "5.1 Film") in the lower right corner. Close the window.
5) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Bus Format…” In the window that now pops up, click on “Add Bus”. For the newly added Bus under "Format" choose “5.1” (not “5.1 Film”). As “Name” you can give this new bus a specific name, for example “Main 5.1”. Press "OK" in the lower right corner to close the window.
6) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Bus Assign…” In the window that now pops up, under "Busses" click on the button with your newly added 5.1 Bus and "Out" written under it. Under "Available Tracks" click on the first track (Audio 1) and all six tracks should be selected (because they are linked in a group). Click "Close" in the lower right corner to close the window.
7) Go to the Deliver Page. In the “Render Settings” go to the “Video” tab. Check the box “Export Video” and as “Format” choose “DCP”. Adjust the rest according to your project / DCP. Do not forget to fill out the form under "Composition Settings" which is important to identify your DCP.
8) In the “Audio” tab check the box “Export Audio”. For “Codec” choose “Linear PCM”. For “Configuration Label” choose “Wild track format”! This is important as it gives the correct channel mapping for cinema. If you have checked "Use Interop packaging" in the video tab, the “Configuration Label” option won't show up in the "Audio" tab. Leave the “Render as discrete audio tracks” box unchecked. For “Output Track 1” choose your newly added 5.1 Bus (as of this example it was “Main 5.1”).
9) Choose a file name. This will be the name of the folder in which the DCP files are located (it is not the name of the DCP. The DCPs name, which appears on the server for projectionists to read, is defined by the "Composition Settings" in the "Video" tab in the Deliver Page).
Choose a Location.
Render.
10) You can do a very basic test to see if there are no major mistakes: Import the whole DCP folder in the Media Page. Double-click on the imported file (as the folder will appear as one file in Resolve). When you start playback check the rashes of the audio meters under "Embedded Audio" > "Meters". The first 6 channels should show rashes (if the played scene has actually sound on every channel).
That's it! Please test your DCP in a real cinema if in doubt!
P.S.: Please let me know if you find an improvement for this instruction or any mistakes and I will edit it.
(updated March 9th 2023)
Instruction for Resolve 17 is here: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356&p=930530#p930530
Instruction for Resolve 16 is here: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356#p772896
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hi community,
I didn’t find a source that singlehandedly fully explained how to achieve a correct 5.1 surround sound mapping with mono audio tracks for DCP export in DaVinci Resolve Studio, so I wrote a short instruction on how to do it in the most easy way I could find.
My knowledge is composed of different sources from this forum, external websites and my own testing.
Results have been tested and validated in a real cinema.
1) Import your 6 mono audio files.
2) In the Edit Page, in the timeline from which you’ll export your DCP, you need to have as many mono audio tracks, as you have mono audio files, which is 6.
3) Put your 6 mono audio files on the mono audio tracks in the correct order, which is:
A1: Left
A2: Right
A3: Center
A4: LFE
A5: Surround Left
A6: Surround Right
4) In the Fairlight Page select all 6 mono audio tracks (A1 – A6). In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Link Group...”. In the window that pops up, select all 6 mono audio tracks (A1 – A6) and click on "Link as..." –> "5.1" (not "5.1 Film") in the lower right corner. Close the window.
5) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Bus Format…” In the window that now pops up, click on “Add Bus”. For the newly added Bus under "Format" choose “5.1” (not “5.1 Film”). As “Name” you can give this new bus a specific name, for example “Main 5.1”. Press "OK" in the lower right corner to close the window.
6) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Bus Assign…” In the window that now pops up, under "Busses" click on the button with your newly added 5.1 Bus and "Out" written under it. Under "Available Tracks" click on the first track (Audio 1) and all six tracks should be selected (because they are linked in a group). Click "Close" in the lower right corner to close the window.
7) Go to the Deliver Page. In the “Render Settings” go to the “Video” tab. Check the box “Export Video” and as “Format” choose “DCP”. Adjust the rest according to your project / DCP. Do not forget to fill out the form under "Composition Settings" which is important to identify your DCP.
8) In the “Audio” tab check the box “Export Audio”. For “Codec” choose “Linear PCM”. For “Configuration Label” choose “Wild track format”! This is important as it gives the correct channel mapping for cinema. If you have checked "Use Interop packaging" in the video tab, the “Configuration Label” option won't show up in the "Audio" tab. Leave the “Render as discrete audio tracks” box unchecked. For “Output Track 1” choose your newly added 5.1 Bus (as of this example it was “Main 5.1”).
9) Choose a file name. This will be the name of the folder in which the DCP files are located (it is not the name of the DCP. The DCPs name, which appears on the server for projectionists to read, is defined by the "Composition Settings" in the "Video" tab in the Deliver Page).
Choose a Location.
Render.
10) You can do a very basic test to see if there are no major mistakes: Import the whole DCP folder in the Media Page. Double-click on the imported file (as the folder will appear as one file in Resolve). When you start playback check the rashes of the audio meters under "Embedded Audio" > "Meters". The first 6 channels should show rashes (if the played scene has actually sound on every channel).
That's it! Please test your DCP in a real cinema if in doubt!
P.S.: Please let me know if you find an improvement for this instruction or any mistakes and I will edit it.
Last edited by Zweistein on Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:53 pm, edited 10 times in total.
Cinematographer – www.janniktesch.com – www.sensorsizes.com
UMP 4.6K G1 6.9.4 – PCC4K OLPF 8.1 – Resolve Studio 18.6.5 – macOS 14.4 – MacBook Pro 2023, M2 Pro, 14"
EIZO CG247X – UltraStudio Monitor 3G 12.5 – Micro Panel
UMP 4.6K G1 6.9.4 – PCC4K OLPF 8.1 – Resolve Studio 18.6.5 – macOS 14.4 – MacBook Pro 2023, M2 Pro, 14"
EIZO CG247X – UltraStudio Monitor 3G 12.5 – Micro Panel