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Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2020 9:15 am
by Zweistein
Instruction for Resolve 18.6.6
(updated August 8th 2024)

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 –> Link Group...
In the window that opens, select all 6 mono audio tracks (A1 – A6).
Click in the lower right corner on Link as... –> 5.1 (not 5.1 Film).
Close the window.

5) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click Fairlight –> Bus Format...
In the window that opens, click on Add Bus.
For the newly added Bus choose Format –> 5.1 (again: not 5.1 Film).
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 –> Bus Assign...
In the window that opens, under Busses click on the button with your newly added 5.1 Bus and "Out" written under it.
Under Available Tracks under Source the first entrance should be the first track from your timeline, it has the same name as the track. If you didn't give the track a name it is called "Audio 1" by default.
Click on this track ("Audio 1") and all six tracks will 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.
As Format choose DCP.
Adjust the rest according to your project and 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 Sample Rate choose 48000.
For Output Track 1 choose your newly added 5.1 Bus (as of this example it was “Main 5.1”).
For Configuration 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 option won't show up in the audio tab.
Leave the Render as discrete audio tracks box unchecked.

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:
The DCP folder should appear as one file in the Media Page in the Media Browser.
When you start playback check the peaks in the audio meters.
The first 6 channels should show peaks (if the played scene has actually sound on all 6 channels).
(To show audio meters look under Audio –> Embedded Audio –> Meters.

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.

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Instruction for Resolve 17: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356&p=930530#p930530

Instruction for Resolve 16: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356#p772896

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:21 pm
by Jim Simon
Thanks for the write up.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 3:56 pm
by Erik Wittbusch
FYI:

It doesn't need to be so complicated.
You can just link the mono tracks in Fairlight ( THX @Gustavo Mendes).

1) import the 6 mono files and put them on a timeline in the correct order (L-R-C-LFE-Ls-Rs).

2) Fairlight > Link group - Link to 5.1
3) Fairlight > Bus format > 5.1

4) Export with audio track format set to 'Wildtrack'.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:13 am
by Zweistein
Erik Wittbusch wrote:FYI:
It doesn't need to be so complicated.
You can just link the mono tracks in Fairlight ( THX @Gustavo Mendes).
1) import the 6 mono files and put them on a timeline in the correct order (L-R-C-LFE-Ls-Rs).
2) Fairlight > Link group - Link to 5.1
3) Fairlight > Bus format > 5.1
4) Export with audio track format set to 'Wildtrack'.


Thanks Erik, yesterday I successfully validated a DCP in cinema, which I channel-mapped with your suggested workflow. I am going to update my initial post soon. Thumbs up!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:54 am
by waltervolpatto
Why “WILDTRACK”?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:59 am
by Zweistein
waltervolpatto wrote:Why “WILDTRACK”?

I don't know exactly, I think it's the name of the correct configuration of audio channels inside the audio MXF file in respect to SMPTE standard.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:44 am
by Jeff Brass
ok, so I'm getting stuck down the rabbit hole of DCP..

came across this thread and am confused about step 4 "4) Export with audio track format set to 'Wildtrack'" ... I'm not seeing where this is set. I've looked in the manual, I've googled but I'm not finding it.

can someone point me in the right direction
cheers

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:37 am
by Zweistein
Jeff Brass wrote:ok, so I'm getting stuck down the rabbit hole of DCP..

came across this thread and am confused about step 4 "4) Export with audio track format set to 'Wildtrack'" ... I'm not seeing where this is set. I've looked in the manual, I've googled but I'm not finding it.

can someone point me in the right direction
cheers


Hi Jeff,
did you read and try step 5) and especially 6) of my original post, yet?

You have to have a surround mix correctly positioned and bus-ed before, of course. Then it should look like this:

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 7:02 pm
by Jeff Brass
Zweistein wrote:
Jeff Brass wrote:ok, so I'm getting stuck down the rabbit hole of DCP..

came across this thread and am confused about step 4 "4) Export with audio track format set to 'Wildtrack'" ... I'm not seeing where this is set. I've looked in the manual, I've googled but I'm not finding it.

can someone point me in the right direction
cheers


Hi Jeff,
did you read and try step 5) and especially 6) of my original post, yet?

You have to have a surround mix correctly positioned and bus-ed before, of course. Then it should look like this:


I did...I will try again, I can't see anything I'm doing anything differently but I must be getting something wrong somewhere...

thanks for your help, and at least I know where the setting should be :)
cheers

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:58 am
by Jeff Brass
ahh...ok, so I have figured it out. If delivering as interop - as I am needing to - then the audio "configuration label" isn't an option. Only becomes available with SMPTE.

Turns out I'm not crazy..just a little slow to learn :)

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:53 am
by jdent02
Interesting observation: every option in Resolve gives you an 8 channel audio file when you export a 7.1 DCP. The Dolby CP750 ignores channels 7 and 8, so using a Resolve DCP on a 7.1 system driven by that processor leads to missing back surround channels. I found that out the hard way today.

I ended up having to use DCP-O-matic to get the correct channel mappings (where the back surrounds are on tracks 11 and 12).

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 7:24 pm
by Zweistein
Instruction for Resolve 16
(updated July 3rd 2021)

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

3) 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" in the lower left corner.

4) In the DaVinci Resolve menu bar, click “Fairlight” and then “Bus Format…” In the window that now shows up, click on “Add Bus” > “Main”. As “Format” choose “5.1” (not “5.1 Film”). As “Name” you can give this new main bus a specific name, for example “Main 5.1”.

5) 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.

6) 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. Leave the “Render as discrete audio tracks” box unchecked. For “Output Track 1” choose your new 5.1 Main Bus (as of the example it was “Main 5.1”).

7) 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 destination.
Start render.

8) You can do a simple 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!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 7:42 pm
by Zweistein
Jeff Brass wrote:ahh...ok, so I have figured it out. If delivering as interop - as I am needing to - then the audio "configuration label" isn't an option. Only becomes available with SMPTE.

Turns out I'm not crazy..just a little slow to learn :)


Thanks. I added that information to the instructions!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:04 pm
by Andrew Kolakowski
Wild track format (WTF) is a way of describing that MXF has 16 unstructured channels which should be in very specific order.

https://cinepedia.com/sound/

"For SMPTE DCP, it is recommended that Channel Configuration 4 (WTF) and the signal ordering described in the table above be used for compatibility."

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 2:42 pm
by Andreas Eymannsberger
What's the procedure with a 5.1 mixdown in a single 5.1 file?

Just leave the linking in Fairlight, make sure timeline track is 5.1 and make sure that the bus is 5.1? Then continue as described?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:15 am
by Andrew Kolakowski
What do you mean single ?
Procedure should be the same. During export you just don't force discrete tracks, so it will create 1x 5.1 interleaved track.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:28 am
by Andreas Eymannsberger
A single mutli channel 5.1 file - instead of having discrete tracks as discrete files, everything in a single 5.1 file...

Just not sure on the DCP container side of things, are there usually discrete channel-files in the dcp or would the single ones be consolidated into a multi-channel-file anyway?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:41 am
by Andrew Kolakowski
If you are doing DCP then don't try using single 5.1 track, but procedure described above. This is specifically made to produce compatible file. Resolve won't actually let you select anything else than WTF.
If you specifically want Jpeg2000 then use MXF/MOV container and then you can do what you want with audio.
(for single 5.1 track just use 5.1 track/bus and then export without selecting "Render 1 track per channel")

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:12 am
by Andreas Eymannsberger
Andrew Kolakowski wrote:If you are doing DCP then don't try using single 5.1 track, but procedure described above. This is specifically made to produce compatible file. Resolve won't actually let you select anything else than WTF.
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Alright, that's valuable information! Thanks!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:03 am
by Pepijn Klijs
Just want to say thanks for the write up. It's so much better and easier to reference then all the 'tutorials' on youtube. Thumbs up!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:41 am
by Zweistein
Pepijn Klijs wrote:Just want to say thanks for the write up. It's so much better and easier to reference then all the 'tutorials' on youtube. Thumbs up!


Thank you. You're very welcome :)

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:38 pm
by pcons11
This is a very useful post, however I'm in need of creating a DCP with more than 6 channels. It seems the fairlight bus method doesn't go above 7.1 channels?

I have 16 audio channels in some DCPs, and what I've been doing is mastering a QuickTime file with 16 individual mono tracks, then using DCP o Matic to generate the DCP. This works, but it's very slow. A 15 min 4k DCP takes around 5 hours to render in DCP o Matic, while the QuickTime file only takes an hour in DaVinci. I tried a test where I only mastered 6 chan in DaVinci and it packaged the DCP in 1 hour as well, so I can save a total of 5 hours for a 15 min clip if I can figure out how to properly export 16 Chan audio in a DCP with resolve.

I'm a resolve noob fyi, I've been using the free version for a little while and just purchased studio last week to master 4k DCPs directly and skip the DCP o Matic step.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:02 pm
by Andrew Kolakowski
Just encode video with Resolve (as this is what takes 5h) and then put all together in DCP-o-matic. You should be able to skip re-encoding if you feed it with jpeg2000 already.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:31 am
by Dermot Shane
excatly what Andrew says

exported a DCi4k_Scope 97 min feature last night, took under 120 min to run out the jpeg2000 seq, a further 25 min to re-wrap in DCP-0-Matic

exporting is all about processors = i have dual 14c xeon's on tap and they are runinng at 100%
re-wrapping is all about disk access = i have a 12 bay array on SAS, that held the media and a 2tb NVME to use as a temp spot until the DCP was QC'd

it then took 9 hours to copy to the producers dog slow external USB drive....

but if it takes 5 hours to render 15 min of a timeline i would be looking into where the bottleneck might be...

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:09 am
by pcons11
Hmm, maybe something about DCP o Matic I have set incorrectly.

To clarify right now resolve takes 1 hour and DCP o Matic takes 5 hours to then make the DCP. I am exporting a QuickTime file in resolve with jpeg 2000 compression, 444 12 bit and all 16 channels.

This takes 1 hour to make in resolve and 5 hours to wrap the DCP.

If I do a test with a 6 channel source file I can make the DCP directly in resolve and that takes 1 hour vs DCP o Matic being 5 hours.

This is for around 15 min of 24fps full 4k content (4096x2160).

Hopefully this is just some setting I'm missing in DCP o Matic, or maybe I should export resolve to something else that DCP o Matic won't try to re encode?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:27 am
by pcons11
I posted a reply question before but because I'm a noob it takes a while for my posts to show up since a moderator has to approve them apparently....I think I answered my question about how to get DCP o Matic sped up.

I enclosed jpeg2000 frames for video with resolve and wav files for my 16 audio channels. Now DCP o Matic flies through the wrapping. It wraps in around 5 min!

I guess one thing I do find a bit annoying is that having 16 individual WAV files slows down setting up the channel mapping properly in DCP o Matic. I don't get a large matrix like with a multi channel file, but there must be a way for me to export a multi channel WAV file in resolve I guess...I'll keep hunting.

That being said, any tips are appreciated if there is a better way than what I just did.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:47 am
by Andrew Kolakowski
Sounds right- wrapping should be fast (just speed disk limit).

Just export 16 channels interleaved wav (or MOV, not 16x mono files). Make desired order already in your timeline (Resolve keeps timeline order after export).

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 8:48 am
by Thom Britten-Austin
6 mono files .. ok...but....

what if your mix contains 24 mono files, do you mean they should be mixed down first?

Also whats the meaning with the 5.1 film buss format in DR if it doesnt work?

And IF you patch eg speaker and sync channels to the surround Center, whats the point of the PAN controls as they will all be dumped into 1 single channel in the center anyway? This means its not possible to control the panning of individual voices if they are all on the same track?

will somebody please enlighten me?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:11 am
by Zweistein
Thom Britten-Austin wrote:6 mono files .. ok

what if your mix contains 24 mono files, do you mean they should be mixed down first?


One mono file per channel. A channel is a source of sound in a 3D room. So a 5.1 mix has 5 sound sources + a subwoofer.
If you actually have 24 channels, then of course 5.1 or 7.1 is not enough. You might need a Dolby Atmos mix or something alike if there is. Or do a mixdown.
But if you just have 24 tracks, in the process of making the surround-mix, you have to decide which tracks (or sounds within the tracks) go to which channel.

But I'm not a sound engineer myself, I just work with them, so my description may be not as scientific as it could.

Thom Britten-Austin wrote:Also whats the meaning with the 5.1 film buss format in DR if it doesnt work?

I don't understand that question. Also you may list your Resolve version in your signature, to get better assistance.

Thom Britten-Austin wrote:And IF you patch eg speaker and sync channels to the surround Center, whats the point of the PAN controls as they will all be dumped into 1 single channel in the center anyway? This means its not possible to control the panning of individual voices if they are all on the same track?


No, you didn't get the concept of surround / stereo mixing. The tracks in your software are not equal to the channels in the final mix. If you pan a voice, which in the software is on one track, through the whole surround field and then export that mix to 5.1, the voice-sound will be in all 5 mono files at the correct times.

My instructions for 5.1 DCPs are for mapping, not for mixing. The surround mix has had to be done beforehand.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:32 am
by Thom Britten-Austin
No, you didn't get the concept of surround / stereo mixing. The tracks in your software are not equal to the channels in the final mix. If you pan a voice, which in the software is on one track, through the whole surround field and then export that mix to 5.1, the voice-sound will be in all 5 mono files at the correct times.

My instructions for 5.1 DCPs are for mapping, not for mixing. The surround mix has had to be done beforehand.


Precisely. lets take the simple case of footsteps across the screen from left to right. This is a single mono sound effect existing on one of many sound effect channels. You achieve the left to right by use of the PAN window and automation. You are effectively moving the sound level across the Left Center and Right 5.1 channels.

Now suppose you have another sound effect of a car moving from right to left at the same time. Why shouldnt you just do exactly the same as for the footsteps? I thought the whole point of surround sound was 5 sound outputs (speakers) in a room which you could use to move sound across as needed. So why should the 'mix' be restricted to just 6 channels? It doesnt make any sense!

I have experimented with just using the 5.1 buss setting, not 5.1 film and in Render using 'wild tracks' and guess what, it works! tested by importing the DCP into resolve and playing it it there. So the answer is you can use as many audio tracks as you like (all mono of course), no need to premix any of them into a single channel mixdown. Use automation to set any panning as required. Music tracks need to be split into a left and right channel if you want to preserve the stereo effect and then panned to the left and right speakers respectively. Also tested the resulting DCP in DCP-o-Matic and it plays well there too :)

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 11:36 am
by Zweistein
Thom Britten-Austin wrote:So why should the 'mix' be restricted to just 6 channels? It doesnt make any sense!


Because 5.1 and 7.1 are from a time before Dolby Atmos, where you have 3D coordinates that can be mapped in real time to speakers. So every speaker needed to have a channel assigned. The smooth panning between them is just tricking our ears/brain. There is no real transition between speakers, there is just mono sound signals that are sent to single channels.

Thom Britten-Austin wrote:I have experimented with just using the 5.1 buss setting, not 5.1 film and in Render using 'wild tracks' and guess what, it works! tested by importing the DCP into resolve and playing it it there. So the answer is you can use as many audio tracks as you like (all mono of course), no need to premix any of them into a single channel mixdown. Use automation to set any panning as required. Music tracks need to be split into a left and right channel if you want to preserve the stereo effect and then panned to the left and right speakers respectively. Also tested the resulting DCP in DCP-o-Matic and it plays well there too :)


Sounds good in theory, but make sure it works correct in a cinema!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 8:37 pm
by Lucius Snow
Hi all,

Is Wild Track Format mandatory for SMPTE's DCP?

I read that on a Q/C report but I have a real doubt. EasyDCP's Q/C validator doesn't mention any warning with non-WTF audio track.

WTF didn't exist before. We used to make DCP SMPTE without it.

Thanks.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2023 2:17 pm
by Zweistein
Lucius Snow wrote:Is Wild Track Format mandatory for SMPTE's DCP?.


You might find a definitive answer here: https://dcss.dcimovies.com/87da0904badd1e28efc83e860d0d572a6cf4399a/dcss.html

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:08 pm
by franciscovaldez
Zweistein wrote:
Lucius Snow wrote:Is Wild Track Format mandatory for SMPTE's DCP?.


You might find a definitive answer here: https://dcss.dcimovies.com/87da0904badd1e28efc83e860d0d572a6cf4399a/dcss.html


Nothing about Wildtrack in there.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:34 pm
by Zweistein
franciscovaldez wrote:
Zweistein wrote:
Lucius Snow wrote:Is Wild Track Format mandatory for SMPTE's DCP?.


You might find a definitive answer here: https://dcss.dcimovies.com/87da0904badd1e28efc83e860d0d572a6cf4399a/dcss.html


Nothing about Wildtrack in there.


I don't know the answer, but here is more discussion about that:

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=169064

https://dcpomatic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1906

Hope it helps. Best thing of course would be to test it in a cinema.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 2:37 pm
by Lucius Snow
I remember that DCP softwares were not allowing WTF for SMTPE format 10 years ago. That came later to expand more audio track and more possibilities. I don't see any reason why it would have become mandatory nowadays, at least for a simple 5.1 SMPTE mapping (L/R/C/LFE/Ls/Rs).

I also read in Deluxe/Netflix DCP requirements that WTF must have 8 or 16 channels only. That's weird. So we would have to add silent channels? Non-sense...

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:42 pm
by Dermot Shane
i had a DCP pass QC from Deluxe last week, it was L/R/C/Lfe/Ls/Rs only
no complaints, no notes

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:44 pm
by Lucius Snow
Dermot Shane wrote:i had a DCP pass QC from Deluxe last week, it was L/R/C/Lfe/Ls/Rs only
no complaints, no notes

SMPTE I suppose? With or without WTF configuration?

If yes, they don't respect their own requirements. Look at the bottom of the page: https://hpaonline.com/wp-content/upload ... df#page=18

Same for Netflix:
https://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com/ ... quirements

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:48 pm
by Zweistein
Instruction for Resolve 17
(updated July 3rd 2021)

Instruction for version 16 is here: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=122356#p772896

Hi community,

as I didn’t find a source that singlehandedly fully explained how to achieve a correct 5.1 surround sound mapping with mono tracks for DCP export in DaVinci Resolve Studio, 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

3) 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.

4) 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”.

5) 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.

6) 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.

7) 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. Leave the “Render as discrete audio tracks” box unchecked. For “Output Track 1” choose your newly added 5.1 Bus (as of the example it was “Main 5.1”).

8) 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 destination.
Start render.

9) You can do a simple 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!

P.S.: Please let me know if you find an improvement for this instruction or any mistakes and I will edit it.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:51 pm
by Zweistein
Just updated the instruction for Resolve 18 (original first post). Nothing really changed much. I mainly got rid of typos and wrote some passages in a little more detail for the instruction to be more precise.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2024 12:26 pm
by Mario Kalogjera
Zweistein wrote:Just updated the instruction for Resolve 18 (original first post). Nothing really changed much. I mainly got rid of typos and wrote some passages in a little more detail for the instruction to be more precise.


The link to Resolve 18 instructions is unclickable.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2024 8:25 am
by Zweistein
Mario Kalogjera wrote:
Zweistein wrote:Just updated the instruction for Resolve 18 (original first post). Nothing really changed much. I mainly got rid of typos and wrote some passages in a little more detail for the instruction to be more precise.


The link to Resolve 18 instructions is unclickable.


There is no link. The description for v18 is in the 1st post.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2024 7:56 pm
by Zweistein
I just updated the inital post with minor tweaks in accordance to UI changes that occured from 18.0 to 18.6.6.
I also tewaked readability and other minor things.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Sat Oct 12, 2024 10:43 pm
by DimitreLucho
Hi all!

Can someone provide some guidance about how to export a DCP with 5.1 16 tracks?
I need to put Sign Language in my DCP, and also audio description, closed captions and subtitles.

Thanks!!!!

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Oct 14, 2024 1:27 pm
by lageole37
Hello everybody,

Super useful instructions, thanks a lot !

I was trying to follow the steps creating a DCP for a short, but turns out my 6 mono tracks delivered by sound department automatically formed a 5.1 unique file on Davinci. The 6 tracks are correctly labeled (L, R, C, LFE, Ls, Rs) so I guess that's why ?

In Fairlight, everything seems in order, I just had to change de stereo bus to 5.1

Is that that easy now ? (I got suspicious haha)

Also, with this new automatisation, should I keep the export on Wild track format anyway?

Thank you

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Oct 14, 2024 9:20 pm
by franciscovaldez
DimitreLucho wrote:Hi all!

Can someone provide some guidance about how to export a DCP with 5.1 16 tracks?
I need to put Sign Language in my DCP, and also audio description, closed captions and subtitles.

Thanks!!!!


You might need to create your DCP on a program that supports supplemental packaging. Before renting it, you could try the standalone demo of EasyDCP.

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Mon Oct 14, 2024 10:49 pm
by lageole37
Hello everybody,

Thanks for the guide, really helpful !

I was actually following for a DCP I'm doing, but when I imported the 6 channel of the DCP provided by sound department, it actually magically created a unique 5.1 that seems correctly mapped.

I guess it's because the 6 tracks are correctly labelled (L,R,C, LFE,Ls, Rs is specified on the name of each track), but yeah, when I go in fairlight, I have the 6 channels that looks correctly mapped, in a 5.1 bus.

Is that became that easy or I'm missing something?

My last interrogation is on the delivery settings. Should I keep the Wild track format option with this (new) automatic mapping ? Or should I choose 5.1 ?

Thanks a lot !

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 4:28 pm
by dcolacino
I too am struggling to get a DCP to correctly route the 5.1 audio channels in a theater that uses the Dolby CP750 processor. There seems to be nothing in the Resolve manual about channel order, but I've read through this thread and the "Dolby® Surround 7.1 Technical Information for Theaters" document which covers the CP750.

My test methodology was to create a short clip where I direct the sound to each speaker (Left, Center, Right, Right Surround, Left Surround) in turn using the pan controls on the Fairlight page. I created a DCP using Kadaku with 5.1 and 5.1 Film bus formats, and also tried re-mapping in DCP-O-Matic.

The meters on the Media page do reflect the channel order I expect for each DCP package, but the lights on the theater's CP750 (and playback in the theater) are very different. Here's what we see:
L on Monitor Channel 1 in Resolve, L in Theater
C on Monitor Channel 3 in Resolve, C in Theater
R on Monitor Channel 2 in Resolve, nothing in Theater
Rs on Monitor Channel 6 in Resolve, Left Surround in Theater
Ls on Monitor Channel 5 in Resolve, Right Surround in Theater

Do the Monitor meters on the Media Page show what's actually being delivered or is there another way to verify channel routing in the delivered file?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:07 pm
by Reynaud Venter
Run channel ident and load the deliverable back on a new Timeline. Is channel order correct?

Re: Correct channel mapping for 5.1 surround DCPs

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:18 pm
by dcolacino
I don't know what you mean by "channel ident."