3.1 Audio Interface

Hello!
I have a question about the audio interfaces that allows me monitoring a 3.1, 5.1 (etc.) signal.

I'd like to creat a 3.1 studio; but I didn't found an Audio Interface that have 3.1 output.

I already know Focusrite RED NET line, but Is this the only device that allows me to connect a 3.1 setup (and over it)? RED NET is the used to connect Dolby Atmos, Cinema Surround Speakers;
do I realy need a High Professional Audio Hardware that cost over $2K to make a simple 3.1 setup?

Tnks!!

There are the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, the Presonus 1810c, or the MOTU 896. All have multiple inputs and 8 analogue outputs.

There are the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, the Presonus 1810c, or the MOTU 896. All have multiple inputs and 8 analogue outputs.

Thanks for your answer Charles!

But, on these audio interfaces that you mentioned, doesn't all their outputs are stereo (Only L and R) ? Cause In my guess, even theses devices have many Outputs, they can only sent L and R channels.
And, I don't know If I can set these outputs via Software - like RED NET one.

I was looking for some interface that can receive my 3.1 digital signal (or even more), convert it to analogue signal and than "output it" to my Left, Right and SBW/LFE channel.

The closest device that I found was a HomeTheater Receiver, like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/-/pt/dp/B078WG7H ... 064&sr=8-5

But, Is there some device dedicate for audio monitoring?

If make this question easier, If I ask to you How to create a 3.1 or 5.1 setup, what would you recommend me?

The outputs are mono and you route your audio accordingly which is the normal way of working. Going from digital to analogue, and vice versa, is what an audio interface does.
For instance, I have an 8 channel interface on my Pro Tools system. When working in 5.1 I have Left going to output 1, Right to 2, Centre to 3, LFE to 4, and the surrounds to 5 & 6, with the speakers plugged into these outputs. You can route your audio to any of the 8 outputs in the Fairlight patching page.

For example, this is just one way of connecting the speakers for 5.1 to the Focusrite 18i20. All speakers are powered so no separate amplifiers are needed.

When working in 5.1 I have Left going to output 1, Right to 2, Centre to 3, LFE to 4, and the surrounds to 5 & 6, with the speakers plugged into these outputs. You can route your audio to any of the 8 outputs in the Fairlight patching page.

Ahhh, I just remembered Fairlight allows you to rote a signal to a specific output;
And if I understood well, in case of Focusrite 18i20, I could even make a 7.1.2 system, Isn't?

Thanks Charles!!

You got it.

Charles, I am understanding that by doing this 5.1 setup, I can monitor audio playback while editing in DaVinci Resolve. Will the audio remain the same after the delivery as 5.1? BTW, are those JBL LSR308 speakers? What type is the subwoofer?

I'm not an audio tech guy so I rarely get into Fairlight. How does someone route the audio in fairlight to the various output in the Audio Interface device? (or at least provide a page reference in the Fairlight document) Thanks.

Will the audio remain the same after the delivery as 5.1?

What exactly you wanted to mean "audio remain the same"?
When you render an audio track, be it stereo, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 (etc), the file contain the information about all the channels.
So, once you render a 5.1 audio track - for instance -, and open it on DaVinci again, It's going to be a 5.1 audio mixer track.

I don't know If It was what you asked,
If you could explain It better...

How does someone route the audio in fairlight to the various output in the Audio Interface device? (or at least provide a page reference in the Fairlight document) Thanks.

As Charles said, once Fairlight recognizes your Audio Interface - in our example, Focusrite 1810c (https://www.amazon.com/-/pt/dp/B018W7BW ... 281&sr=8-8) - It allows you to send a specific channel to a specific Output on your audio interface, and this Outputs are connected to your studio monitors.
For example:

Subwoofer Channel on Fairlight rotated to Output 4 > Audio Interface will convert the digital Input signal (USB, Network connection) to Analog Audio Signal and "Output It" on OUT 4 > via TRS cable, OUT 4 is connect with your Subwoofer.

This is the basic conception
If I remember well, you can find this configuration on Preferences > Video and Audio I/O > Speaker Setup > Speaker Configuration (set "Manual") > and the, just set the option you want

Will the audio remain the same after the delivery as 5.1?

What exactly you wanted to mean "audio remain the same"?
When you render an audio track, be it stereo, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 (etc), the file contain the information about all the channels.
So, once you render a 5.1 audio track - for instance -, and open it on DaVinci again, It's going to be a 5.1 audio mixer track.

I don't know If It was what you asked,
If you could explain It better...

I got it now. I never had to fiddle much with the audio in the Delivery page and just saw that there is an Output option to specify what type. Sorry for asking the question in the wrong context.

How does someone route the audio in fairlight to the various output in the Audio Interface device? (or at least provide a page reference in the Fairlight document) Thanks.

As Charles said, once Fairlight recognizes your Audio Interface - in our example, Focusrite 1810c (https://www.amazon.com/-/pt/dp/B018W7BW ... 281&sr=8-8) - It allows you to send a specific channel to a specific Output on your audio interface, and this Outputs are connected to your studio monitors.
For example:

Subwoofer Channel on Fairlight rotated to Output 4 > Audio Interface will convert the digital Input signal (USB, Network connection) to Analog Audio Signal and "Output It" on OUT 4 > via TRS cable, OUT 4 is connect with your Subwoofer.

This is the basic conception
If I remember well, you can find this configuration on Preferences > Video and Audio I/O > Speaker Setup > Speaker Configuration (set "Manual") > and the, just set the option you want

Ok. Thanks. I have an old Behringer UMC404HD USB audio interface which has 4 input and 4 output and I am trying to see if I can set it as 3.1. I’ve not seen Resolve Fairlight recognized this device so I wonder if it is even supported.

Ellory, I just used the pics of the JBLs to illustrate, but I do have JBL 308s in my Pro Tools system. When you render a video with surround audio, the audio is saved as an interleaved polywav file.

Ellory, I just used the pics of the JBLs to illustrate, but I do have JBL 308s in my Pro Tools system. When you render a video with surround audio, the audio is saved as an interleaved polywav file.

Thanks Charles. I used the 308s too.

I have an old Behringer UMC404HD USB audio interface which has 4 input and 4 output and I am trying to see if I can set it as 3.1. I’ve not seen Resolve Fairlight recognized this device so I wonder if it is even supported.

Hey Ellory Yu!
I have some goods news!

When you sent this mensage I stayed thoughtful cause I have this exactly same Audio Interface

I done some tests here and I got It!

ft 3.1 fairlight.png (52.39 KiB) Viewed 777 times

To do this, I used the 4 Playback Outputs from UMC404HD. It's very easy to configure fairlight to this setup.
If you still have any doubt, feel free to ask here!!

Hey Ellory Yu!
I have some goods news!

When you sent this mensage I stayed thoughtful cause I have this exactly same Audio Interface

I done some tests here and I got It!

ft 3.1 fairlight.png

To do this, I used the 4 Playback Outputs from UMC404HD. It's very easy to configure fairlight to this setup.
If you still have any doubt, feel free to ask here!!

This is terrific. Thank you for sharing. I will give it a try. Appreciate the help.

To do this, I used the 4 Playback Outputs from UMC404HD.

Are your speakers connected via XLR or 1/4" TRS?
What speakers do you use for your 3.1 setup if I may ask?