System: Z820, Win 7 Ultimate x64
Audio: Creative SoundBlaster Recon3D PCIe, Altec Lansing 5.1 speaker system
SW: Master Collection CS6
I've been using Premiere Pro CS6 for a while now, but only for stereo video projects. I recently started working on a short film and needed 5.1 Surround Sound as well. I created a 5.1 surround track in Au, and have been able to monitor the sound and surround panning effects in Au during development. Here are the Audio and Channel Mapping settings I used to get my 5.1 to work so I could monitor it:
As can be seen, I've chosen the default MME Device Class here, and all seems well. I have 6 channels identified and mapped to the right corners. I've also confirmed my Master Track in Au is 5.1 Surround. I exported a 5.1 WAV and imported it into Pr, into a 5.1 surround session, confirming that both the track where the WAV file landed and the Master are both 6 channels (and although the order is displayed differently, the content correctly mapped from Au into Pr).
Now, my fun began. When I monitor the audio in Pr, I hear only Stereo. So, I check my channel mapping in Pr, as shown below:
As can be seen here as well, I've chosen the 'default' Premiere Pro WDM Sound. I've learned that WDM is a newer version of MME and encapsulates all the functionality of MME. I'm not sure why Au uses MME and Pr uses WDM. However, as shown, with WDM chosen, I only have 2 channels in the mapping dialog to work with, not the 6 I have (and had in Au). Nothing I can do will produce those other four channels.
As seen in the drop down captured in the above screen grab, I also have ASIO4ALL installed, but that too only shows 2 channels in both Pr and Au. Interestingly, when I hover the mouse over the speaker selection in the ASIO4ALL control panel, it only indicates there are 2 channels (but indicates that there are 6 INPUT channels). The Creative SBZ Series ASIO option is no better, providing only 2 channels.
So, I was off to check my system settings, which are all shown below:
As seen above, Windows knows there is 5.1 surround on the system, and the Test available in the bottom left dialog proves that each speaker is configured and working correctly. Audition also knows there is 5.1 available on my system and uses it correctly as described earlier. However, Pr refuses to recognize this and as a result I am unable to monitor any 5.1 surround projects on my system. If neither Au nor Pr worked, then I'd mark it down as Sound Card or Driver issues, but since one Adobe product uses the system audio correctly, and the other doesn't, it leads me to believe that it is Pr who is at fault.
So, my question is this: Why won't Pr recognize my 6 output channels like Au does?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Shane