Multichannel Digital Audio Software

Emagic Logic Audio Platinum 4.7 (Mac/Win)
Multichannel digital audio software that includes an intuitive surround panner.
http://www.emagic.de/

Mark of the Unicorn Digital Performer (Mac)
Multichannel digital audio software that includes a fully functional surround panner.
http://www.motu.com/

APB Tools SIGMA1 v1.8 (Mac)
Multiformat Surround Sound Production System
http://www.apbtools.com/indexex.html

Human Machines Interfaces InMotion 5.1 Surround Producer (Win)
The InMotion 5.1 Surround Producer is a professional software application for creating multi-channel audio mixes.
http://www.humanmachine.com/

Minnetonka Audio Software Mx51 (Win)
Supports the Yamaha DSP Factory soundcard. Interestingly, it can be used with a force-feedback joystick. The powered joystick lets you sense previously written automation and create new panning paths.
http://www.minnetonkaaudio.com/Mx51_3.htm

http://www.yamaha.com/

Steinberg Nuendo (Mac/Win)
Includes full surround mixing on each of its input channels.
http://www.nuendo.com/

Digidesign Pro Tools 5.1 (Mac/Win)
In Pro Tools 5.1, the TDM mixing environment has been expanded to include multichannel mixing, panning and processing, with support for all standard surround formats.
http://www.protools.com/

Kind of Loud Technologies SmartPan Pro (Mac/Win)
An easy-to-use TDM plug in panner for Digidesign Pro Tools TDM systems. Kind of Loud also makes a nice multichannel reverb plug-in called RealVerb that is really cool. Check it out!
http://www.kindofloud.com/products/smartpan_pro.html

Sek’d SEQUOIA (Win)
SEQUIOI is multichannel digital audio software that provides 5.1 surround panning and 2 channel surround export
http://www.sekd.com/

Multichannel Output Soundcards

Many game developers choose to use a computer audio interface and software with multichannel channel panning instead of an expensive mixing console.  You will need a soundcard with at least six outputs for 5.1 channel Dolby Digital and at least four outputs for Dolby Surround.  The audio interfaces marked with a (*) have been donated to the Dolby Game Developer Support Team and have been used extensively by our labs.

Below is a fairly comprehensive list of the devices available on the market today.

* Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum EX
The Sound Blaster Audigy delivers stunning audio clarity in multi-channel through 24-bit/96kHz digital-to-analog converters (DACs), producing an outstanding 100dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).  The Audigy provides low latency ASIO support, extensive connectivity, and built-in Dolby Digital decoding!
http://www.soundblaster.com

TerraTec EWS88MT (Win)
Eight phono inputs and eight phono outputs, MIDI in and out. PCI card + Break out box. S/PIDF in and out.
http://www.terratec.co.uk/ttus/products.htm

Yamaha DSP Factory (Mac/Win)
The DSP factory is basically an O2R mixing deck on a PCI card with six phono connectors for analog audio. The card itself has DSP chips so your host processor is free to work on other tasks.
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gRMC00008DSP+FACTORY

Soundscape Mixtreme (Win)
16 channels of 24 bit digital input and output via two industry standard 8 channel TDIF (Tascam Digital Interface) ports. It also has full 24 bit digital mixing and real-time DSP effects plug-ins.
http://www.soundscape-digital.com/Products/Mixtreme/Intro/

Korg Soundlink DRS 1212 I/O PCI Multi-Channel Audio Interface (Mac/Win)
The 1212 I/O features 12 audio inputs and 12 audio outputs: stereo analog, stereo S/PDIF, and eight channel ADAT optical.
http://www.korg.com/

Echo Gina24 PCI Multi-Channel Audio Interface (Mac/Win)
The Gina24 is a cost effective I/O with 2 in/8 out analog, S/PDIF I/O, ADAT digital I/O, and 24-bit/96kHZ performance.
http://www.echoaudio.com/

Echo Layla24 PCI Multi-Channel Audio Interface (Mac/Win)
The Layla24 is an I/O with 8 in/8 out analog, S/PDIF I/O, ADAT digital I/O, MIDI in/out/thru, and 24-bit/96kHZ performance.
http://www.echoaudio.com/

Echo Mona PCI Multi-Channel Audio Interface (Mac/Win)
The Layla24 is an I/O with 4 in/6 out analog (Mic, Line, and Guitar inputs!), S/PDIF I/O, ADAT digital I/O, and 24-bit/96kHZ performance.
http://www.echoaudio.com/

Emagic Audiowerk8 (Mac/Win)
The Audiowerk8 is a 7" PCI recording card with 2 analog inputs and 8 discrete analog outputs plus SP/DIF digital I/O. The Audiowerk8 is equipped with PCI busmastering technology to both reduce the load on your computer's CPU and ensure optimal audio performance.
http://www.emagic.de

Emagic 2|6 (Mac/Win)
EMI 2I6 - the mobile audio interface for the Universal Serial Bus (USB).  The Emagic Multichannel Interface 2I6 delivers six playback and two recording channels at 44.1/48 kHz, 24 Bit audio quality.
http://www.emagic.de

Frontier Design Group Dakota (Win)
Dakota is a superintegrated PCI soundcard that provides two pairs of ADAT optical ports for 16 audio inputs and 16 audio outputs. Dakota has S/PDIF digital audio I/O on RCA jacks via a breakout cable that also includes an ADAT 9-pin sync input connector. Dakota also has two MIDI inputs and two MIDI outputs on standard DIN-5 connectors, and an internal CD-ROM digital audio cable for direct transfers of audio CDs.
http://www.frontierdesign.com/

Frontier Design Group WaveCenter/PCI (Mac/Win)
WaveCenter/PCI is the affordable new ADAT digital lightpipe card for Windows and Macintosh computers. It combines eight channels of lightpipe I/O, two channels of S/PDIF, and a 2x2 MIDI interface on one compact PCI card.
http://www.frontierdesign.com/

* Nuendo 8-I/O (Mac/Win)
The Nuendo 8-I/O has 8-channel AD-Converters, 8-channel DA-Converters, 24-bit ADAT Optical Outputs, a 24-bit TDIF-1 interface, and 24-bit ADAT Optical Inputs.  The 8-I/O has 48 kHz performance while the 8 I/O 96k supports sample rates up to 96kHz.
http://www.nuendo.com/

Nuendo AD-8000 (Mac/Win)
The AD-8000 8-channel 24-bit A/D features a proprietary card interface allowing it to connect to most current digital systems. There are optional cards for various formats including ADAT, TDIF, SDIF-II (DASH), AES/EBU, as well as analog input/output. It allows for transparent format conversion between any of the installed interfaces, and optional 2- and 8-channel D/A cards are also available.
http://www.nuendo.com/

Nuendo 95/52 Audio Card (Mac/Win)
The Nuendo 96/52 Audio Card provides 3 ADAT digital I/O connectors, a SPDIF digital I/O , an ADAT Sync In (9-pin D-type) for sample accurate transfers, a Word clock I/O (BNC) on included expansion back plate, a breakout cable for coaxial SPDIF operation, and supports sample rates up to 96kHz.
http://www.nuendo.com/

Creamware Luna II (Mac/Win)
The Creamware Luna II is a 24-bit / 96 kHz PCI card that provides stereo analog I/O and stereo S/PDIF digital I/O, a Z-Link port for connection of Luna 2496 I/O box (8 additional analog I/Os), and is expandable to 36 I/Os with the 2x ADAT / 1x Z-Link expansion.  The card provides high-speed drivers for ASIO 2.0, EASI, DirectSound, MME, tripleDAT, GigaSampler, OMS, and Sound Manager.   It also provides a MIDI interface (In & Out).
http://www.creamware.de/

Digidesign Pro Tools 24|Mix (Mac/Win)
Pro Tools|24 MIX is a single-card system that provides 64 audio tracks and 16 input and output channels. Pro Tools|24 MIX can be expanded to up to 72 I/O channels and virtually unlimited DSP power.
http://www.digidesign.com/

Digidesign Digi 001 (Mac/Win)
Digi 001 features 18 simultaneous inputs and outputs, including analog, S/PDIF, ADAT optical, and MIDI I/O.
http://www.digidesign.com/

Aardvark Aark24 (Win)
The Aark24 offers true 24 Bit A/D D/A with eight 1/4" TRS Analog I/O, ADAT Optical I/O, ADAT Sync, S/PDIF Digital I/O, MIDI I/O, TOSLINK Optical I/O, Word Clock I/O, TDIF I/O (optional), and AES/EBU I/O (optional).
http://www.aardvark-pro.com/

Aardvark Direct Pro Q10 (Win)
The Direct Pro Q10 has 24 Bit A/D D/A, 8 XLR Mic inputs with phantom power, 8 line inputs, 10 line outputs, 4 inserts, S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O, Word clock I/O, and a headphone jack.
http://www.aardvark-pro.com/

Sonorus Studi/o (Mac/Win)
The Studi/o offers two 8-channel, 24-bit Alesis ADAT optical interfaces, and a high-resolution, 18-bit stereo analog monitor/headphone output.
http://sonorus.com/

Sek'd PRODIF A (Win)
The PRODIF A features 1 x ADAT-I/O opt., max. 24 Bit / 48 kHz audio resolution, up to 3 cards can be synced at sample accuracy for a total of 24 channels (16 channels of simultaneous recording). Can also be synchronized to other SEK'D-cards like the Siena, Prodif Plus, and Prodif 96 Pro, driver support for Windows 95/98, ME, NT and 2000 (MME), ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF for Windows 9x.
http://www.sekd.com/

Sek'd PRODIF PLUS (Win)
The PRODIF PLUS features 24 Bit/96 kHz Digital-In/Out (S/PDIF and AES/EBU), opt. and RCA, 20 Bit/48 kHz Analog-In/Out, ADAT-Interface, driver support for Windows 95/98, ME, NT and 2000 (MME), ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF for Windows 9x.
http://www.sekd.com/

Sek'd PRODIF 96 PRO (Win)
The PRODIF 96 PRO has 24 Bit/96 kHz Digital-In/Out (S/PDIF and AES/EBU), opt. and XLR, 20 Bit/96 kHz Analog-In/Out, ADAT-Interface, Wordclock-In-Synchronisation, driver support for Windows 95/98, ME, NT and 2000 (MME), ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF for Windows 9x
http://www.sekd.com/

Sek'd ARC 88 (Win)
| The ARC 88 has 8 analog In/Out + S/PDIF In/Out, driver support for Windows 95/98, ME, NT and 2000 (MME), ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF for Windows 9x.
http://www.sekd.com/

Sek'd Siena (Win)
The Siena has 8 analog In/Out, 24 Bit/96 kHz, 2 MIDI In/Out, driver support for Windows 95/98, ME, NT and 2000 (MME), ASIO 2.0, DirectSound, GSIF for Windows 9x.
http://www.sekd.com/

Mark of the Unicorn 828 (Mac/Win)
The 828 is a FireWire-based (1394) hard disk recording system with eight 24-bit analog outputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS jacks, six 24-bit analog inputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS jacks, two 24-bit analog inputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4"/XLR combo connectors, and two mic pre-amps with switchable 48-volt phantom power on the front panel.  The unit has 105dB dynamic range, 8 channels of 24-bit ADAT optical input/output, and stereo S/PDIF in/out in optical and coax.
http://www.motu.com/

Mark of the Unicorn 1296 (Mac/Win)

The 1296 has Twelve channels of balanced, 96-kHz 24-bit analog inputs and outputs using XLR jacks.   It has 19-segment LED meters on every input and output, and 16, 20 and 24-bit recording at 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kHz.  It has an Audiowire connector for PCI-324 audio card, and an A-weighted dynamic range of 117dB.
http://www.motu.com/

Mark of the Unicorn 2408 (Mac/Win)
The 2048 has eight analog inputs/outputs with 24-bit converters on balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS connectors.  It has 105dB S/N ratio (A-weighted), 24 channels of ADAT optical input/output, 24 channels of TDIF (Tascam digital) input/output, 2 channels of S/PDIF in and 4 channels out, 16, 20 and 24-bit recording at 44.1 or 48 kHz, and includes a cross-platform PCI-324 card.
http://www.motu.com/

Mark of the Unicorn 1224 (Mac/Win)
The 1224 has eight 24-bit balanced TRS analog outs, two 24-bit balanced XLR analog outs, eight 24-bit balanced TRS analog ins, AES/EBU digital I/O, 16, 20 and 24-bit recording at 44.1 or 48 kHz, and the core system includes cross-platform PCI-324 card.
http://www.motu.com/

Dolby Surround Encoders

Dolby Surround encoders accept as input four channels of audio, and output two surround-encoded channels.  This is also known as matrix encoding and the output is sometimes called Lt/Rt encoded.  The output of a Dolby Surround encoder is stereo compatible, and will play back on any two-channel system.  The output can also be sent to a Pro Logic or Pro Logic II decoder, and be rendered back into four channels. 

Surround encoded material can be used in any 2-channel PC or console game.  These games may wear the Dolby Surround logo to encourage gamers to listen to the four-channel audio as intended.  Real-Time interactive sound effects can be mixed with sound created with a Dolby Surround encoder.  For further surround effect, it is highly recommended that real-time interactive sound effects use one of the listed Dolby Surround Interactive Solutions.

Dolby Laboratories DP563

Featuring a digital implementation of the encoder used in the analog SEU4 Dolby Surround Encoder, the DP563 combines discrete Left, Center, Right, and Surround input signals into Dolby Surround format. The DP563 can also pre-mix discrete, 5.1-channel material to the four channels required for Dolby Surround matrix encoding.   The DP563 is highly recommended for game developers interested in Surround Encoding.
http://www.dolby.com/pro/digaudio/563.pdf

Dolby Laboratories SEU-4
The Dolby SEU4 encodes discrete four-channel program material (Left, Center, Right, and Surround) for Dolby Surround release. The resulting matrix-encoded two-channel Left total/Right total (Lt/Rt) material can be distributed via any consumer stereo medium. 
http://www.dolby.com/pro/multiaud/SEU4.pdf

Pro Logic Decoders

Dolby Laboratories DP562
The Dolby DP562 is a professional reference Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic decoder. Its inputs and outputs are all XLR AES digital, so be prepared to provide a Digital-to-analog converter if you're going to route the outputs to analog components.  A DP562 is highly recommended for all game developers using Dolby technology.
http://www.dolby.com/pro/digaudio/562.pdf

Dolby Laboratories SDU-4
The SDU4 Dolby Surround reference decoder is used to monitor Dolby Surround encoded two-channel programs. The unit provides switchable stereo and monophonic monitoring modes for evaluating mix compatibility, as well as balanced connections. 
http://www.dolby.com/pro/multiaud/SDU4.pdf

Consumer Recievers with Dolby Pro Logic decoding

Although we highly recommend using our SDU-4, those on a budget can use a consumer Pro Logic decoder as a viable alternative. This solution is not ideal, but it is functional.  A game should always be tested on a variety of consumer recievers.  This can be done free of charge by Dolby Laboratories for games using Dolby technology.

Digidesign Dolby Surround Tools
Encoder and Decoder TDM Plug-Ins bundled together for users of Pro Tools
http://www.protools.com/

Soundscape Dolby Surround Pro Logic Encoder/Decoder Plug In
Developed for the Soundscape V2 Mixer environment. The Soundscape V2 Mixer is also equipped for surround mixing and now includes new elements for Surround channel strips and Surround Panners.  Requires Soundscape DAW with V2.04 software or Soundscape Mixtreme PCI Card with V1.05 software. Surround Channel Strips and Panners provided as standard with these versions.
http://www.soundscape-digital.com/Products/DolbySurround/Intro/index.html

4-Channel Speaker Systems and Subwoofers

All three front speakers should be able to play at the same maximum level and have the same bandwidth. The frequency response of the Surround channel rolls off at 7 kHz, so speakers which perform comparably to the front speakers in this range should be adequate. The simplest way to ensure that the speakers are matched is to make sure they’re all the same model!

The Center speaker should be straight ahead. The Left and Right should be 30 degrees from Center. The Surrounds should be 110 degrees from Center.

All three front high frequency drivers, or tweeters, should be in a straight horizontal line. Surround speakers should be placed directly facing each other on the side walls about two feet behind the engineer's seating position and at least two feet above the engineers head.

All main channels (not speakers) should be calibrated to the same level, using an SPL meter set to "C-weighted slow".  The SPL meter should be positioned at the listening station, pointing upward and slightly forward.  The reference mixing level for small rooms is 79 dB per channel.  Refer to your Dolby Decoder manual for instructions on calibrating your system.

A subwoofer is not required for Dolby Surround mixing.  If you use one, it should be calibrated by ear while playing pink noise through the sub and the main channel against a main channel with pink noise by ear, and then dropped around 5 dB. Subwoofer calibration is an area of controversy. Make sure to verify Subwoofer calibration by listening to familiar movies in Dolby Surround.

If you are going to be mixing for both Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround in the same studio, configure the studio as recommended for Dolby Digital.   The main speakers should be calibrated at equal volume using a pink noise generator from your console or a Dolby DP562. When calibrating a Dolby Digital studio for Dolby Surround, make sure you adjust the output volume from the decoder to calibrate the mono surround channel, if possible, rather than readjusting the gain on the speakers themselves. 

Radio Shack Sound Level Meter
This is a great, inexpensive SPL meter. Analog and digital display models are available. We like the analog one – it’s easy to use and it’s cheaper!
http://www.radioshack.com