16 audio channels not available?

[Jens]

Hello,

new member here, this is actually my first post here.

I currently have the following problem:

I need to create a 14 channel DCP (quite unusual, I know - that's a first for me too - don't ask), however when I set DCP-o-matic to 14 channels, only twelve appear - and when I set it to 16, a single furth one appears. I can sort of understand that the unused channel 16 is missing, but where are the other two? In fact it seems it's actually channel 9 and 10 (Center L / Center R) that are missing. Am I doing something wrong?

[carl]

Hi,

It's a little confusing - I'm still not sure whether the user interface for this is as clear as it could be. If you select 14 channels for your DCP you will get 14 channels in the output, but as you observed 9/10 will always be silent, and they are hidden from the audio matrix, so you can't (accidentally) map some audio there which (so far as I know) you will never hear.

Do you need to map things to 9/10 for some reason?

[Jens]

Thank you very much for your reply Carl.

Yes, as I mentioned I indeed need 14 channels. As I said I will gladly admit that this is a very special and rare case indeed.

I also don't need the channels for a normal surround-mix/config.

These are 14 tracks that all except one contain music (channel 14 is a click-track for the conductor). There's a orchestra and a sound-guy who will mix the 14 channels live during the performance.

It's a special screening for a silent movie (Nosferatu).

[carl]

Hi Jens,

OK let me think a little about a way to make these two channels accessible... it shouldn't be so hard (famous last words).

[Jens]

Splendid! Thank you ever so much!

"Famous last words" - *haha* - hopefully not at all!

[Carsten]

Wouldn't it be sufficient to allow all channels to be used, but issue a hint/warning if any of these are used in the matrix?


Sometimes, 16ch DCPs need to be created for testing purposes.

[carl]

That would be sufficient, I guess the question is whether to do this for everyone, and have two channels that 99% of people do not use, or to have it as one of the advanced options.

[carl]

I totally forgot, there's already an option for this... if you tick

"Allow mapping to all audio channels"

in the "Non-standard" tab of preferences you should get the extra channels (9, 10, 16) in the audio map.

[Jens]

I totally forgot, there's already an option for this... if you tick

"Allow mapping to all audio channels"

in the "Non-standard" tab of preferences you should get the extra channels (9, 10, 16) in the audio map.

That's fantastic - exactly what I need! Thank you so much Carl - you're the best!