Unorganized thoughts and workflows from mixing for VR
This post is much more of a way for me to store my thoughts that to actually communicate anything to anybody else.
Checklist
- Create an aux input for each audio track and add the Spatializer plugin to the aux, not the audio track. (Each audio track is routed its aux.) This greatly simplifies processing and FX sends that otherwise gets complicated by the was Spatializer changes to channel count.
- Set the room parameters in FB360 Control in such a way that it more or less matches the room in seen on screen.
- Turn of ”attentuation” on each Spatializer.
- Solo the close mics one at a time and watch the 360 video. Pan with each Spatializer in such a way that when I’m looking straight at a mic, the sound from it is coming from straight ahead.
- Use TC Electronic LM2 to loudness measure the close-mics and more or less match them. That way I’m the basic balance of the mix is more or less set before I even start the actual mixing. Consider it as something similar to setting the input levels on a traditional analog console with a tape machine.
- Always use FuMa channel ordering as output from A-to-B-format converters. This is because both the SoundField and the Sennheiser plugin can output FuMa whereas the SoundField can not output AmbiX channel order. It’s much easier to be consistent here.
Other random tidbits
- If possible, mix in one of the control rooms that has a Mac Pro. The difference in performance between that and my laptop is significant.
- Two monitor screens is a minimum. Three would be even better.