Black Session
Heretic Misanthrope
There are special downmix algorithms designed to mix down to stereo with as little loss due to phase cancellation as possible, along with keeping dry sound/ambiance ratios in check.
I'm personally not thrilled by the 5.1 format. It takes too much effort to implement correctly. Most of the people I know don't even know how to optimally position a stereo speaker system.. god forbid you give them 5 speakers and a subwoofer. The album will never be heard like the mixer intended it to, mainly due to consumer ignorance... and that's fine, the format itself is too cumbersome.
perhaps if they explain how to do it, and make an effort of explaining it so the "consumer" can understand it, the "consumer" might not be that ignorant ...
I know nothing about the technical side of sound systems, but I still want to experience good quality. for this I have to trust on people who do know ... but every time I ask someone who knows, they start rambling on about stuff I don't know and using all these terminology I don't know, and acting as if it's a special club of people who do know it and no one else is allowed and people who don't know it are just stupid (or ignorant).
and yeah, I could learn about it, but hey, I don't have time to do that! I'm busy enough with my own studies and career as it is, so it would be nice to sometimes get a normal, understandable explanation on what to do. perhaps some of you can write it and earn some money by releasing a book to guide every sound system sold.
thank you.