Davinci Resolve - Surround Sound Studio Output Setup - How to play Surround files in Resolve
| Open Audio MIDI Setup | |
Click on HDMI > Output and make sure The Source is Crestron Format is 8 Ch 24 Bit 48kHz | |
Or in some studios The Source is Extron HDMI Format is 8 Ch 24 Bit 48kHz | |
| Check on Configure Speakers at the bottom | |
Notice that in the latest versions of the OS - Sequioia HDMI output to Crestron or Extron Center and sub are switched Should be Center =3 and Sub = 4 but not in the latest OS Currently Center = 4 and Sub = 3 If you click the little speaker at the side to test you'll hear the audio going out the right speaker | |
| Open Davinci Resolve | |
When you get trough the prompts Open a New Project or Existing Project | |
| Click on Media Tab and add 5.1 clips to media pool | |
Find the 2K clip with the 5.1 interleaved audio that was exported Right click it and choose "Add into Media Pool" | |
Choose to Change the frame rate Click "Change" | |
If you have a .mxf that AVID exported it is a surround file but we have to tell Davinci that it is 5.1If your file is not an .mxf then skip the next 4 steps and go to creating a timeline | |
MXF Only- Right click the MXF File and choose >Clip Attributes | |
Go to the Audio TabChoose Format 5.1 and Tracks 1 and choose Add | |
Next click on the trashcan to delete tracks 1-6 mono tracks | |
When all that is left is the 5.1 track then click on OKNow that the .mxf file is setup correctly | |
Everyone follow the rest of the workflowMake a new timeline | |
Next - Go to the Edit Tab | |
Right click in the Media Pool area >Choose >Timeline>CreateNew Timeline | |
Set the Timeline to be 1 Video Track 1 audio track that is 5.1 Uncheck Empty Timeline Click on "Create" | |
| Next go to >Fairlight>Bus Format | |
Choose Format 5.1 Click on OK | |
| choose the Fairlight tab at the bottom of the application to enter the Fairlight mode | |
| In the Fairlight mode click on Fairlight>Patch Input/Output | |
Choose Source Bus Out Next select source channels L, R, C, Lfe, Ls, Rs in this order by clicking on the channels bus out or Track Direct seem to work Then on Destination click on channels 1-6 in order They will have a white border around the boxes like this | |
| Then click on Patch | |
Next we need to fix the channel routing for Channels 3 and 4 Select Crestron/Extron HDMI 3: Buss 1C and 4: Bus 1- LFe Choose Unpatch | |
Choose Bus 1 - C and 4: Extron/Crestron HDMI Choose Patch | |
Choose Bus 1 - LFE and 3: Extron/Crestron HDMI Choose Patch | |
Now you see the patches are correct for 5.1 monitoring close the window | |
Note every timeline you make you have to do the bus format and the patching or else it won't play right. UNPATCH everything and the RE-Patch kinda buggy | |
Now play the timeline you will see the 6 channels playing back like this | |
On the Crestron Touch Panel to test the output Choose Advanced and then Surround Sound If you don't see this button You are not in a surround sound room that will play in 5.1 multi channel | |
Keep at Auto and you should be able to mute channels as needed to check the audio. |




