Downmixing 5.1 to stereo, step by step

1. Import

Load the surround master and confirm the channel order.

• Drop the 5.1 file; the six channels are listed with their detected roles.
• Verify the order, film order is L R C LFE Ls Rs and it is not universal.
• Solo the centre channel and confirm it holds dialogue before going further.

Tip A wrong channel order sends dialogue to a surround. Always audition the centre first.

2. Settings

LoRo gains decide how the fold down sounds.

• Start from the standard LoRo coefficients: centre at minus 3 dB, surrounds at minus 3 dB.
• Lift the centre by 1 to 2 dB when dialogue sits too low against music and effects.
• Mute or heavily attenuate the LFE; it usually adds mud to a stereo mix.
• Adjust the surrounds down when reverb makes the stereo version feel distant.

3. Export and ZIP

A downmix is one stereo file.

• Keep the source sample rate and bit depth so the file drops back onto the same timeline.
• Export to WAV for delivery, MP3 only for a client review copy.
• Name the output with a stereo suffix to distinguish it from the 5.1 master.
• Batch several reels and the stereo versions arrive together in one ZIP.

4. Quality control

Judge the downmix on the worst speaker you can find.

• Check dialogue intelligibility on laptop speakers and on a phone, not on studio monitors.
• Listen for clipping; summing six channels into two raises level.
• Compare the loudness of the stereo version with the 5.1 master against your delivery target.
• Verify channel count, rate and bit depth in the Audio Inspector before delivery.