Vortex Surround Encoder is a surround sound utility application that allows you to freely combine and encode several individual sound files into a single multichannel master file. It can handle input and output files in any common channel configuration and it is compatible with the most popular file formats used in surround sound, from binaural headphone encoding all the way to 7.1 and beyond. VSE’s clean and simple user interface allows drag-and-drop importing of files and in-place editing of the most essential sound parameters.

NOTE: A SMALL WORK AROUND IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR VSE TO READ ZOOM H2, H4n, and H2n FILE FORMATS.  First convert your zoom recordings to AIF or WAV using VZE, iTunes, or Audacity before using VSE.

Encoded ImmersiveStereo from Zoom H2

Monolake DB Festival 2011 by TiLuxRecording
This Zoom H2 Recording is of Monolake from the 2011 Decibel Festival
The recording was done in “Four Channel Mode” and encoded into Immersive Stereo by the Vortex Zoom Encoder

Four steps to 5.1 surround

Click on the linked text below to read the whole story:

Making Tracks: Quad Squad

By David Battino

Click on the linked text below to see examples prepared to complement “Making Tracks”:

Vortex Zoom Encoder Web Clips

By David Battino

Below are three audio clips selected from the “Web Clips”. The first two I selected to demonstrate that Zoom H2  four channel recordings sound better when encoded by VZE into ImmersiveStereo™.

• Stereo Mix

The first clip “Stereo Mix” was rendered by combining the two H2 files using a standard quad to stereo mix-down that can be done using any Digital Audio Workstation or DAW.

• VZE’s ImmersiveStereo™ Mix

The second uses only VZE to render ImmersiveStereo™ from the pair of H2 stereo files. In my own humble yet biased opinion the ImmersiveStereo™ Mix has a distinctive and desirable spatial quality. I notice it in the lack of impact on the ear drum, and the sensation that you’re immersed in the scene rather than listening to a recording.

In the next clip I recorded the Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! Band live at U-31 in San Diego with a Zoom H4n. I fed front of house board mix into the H4n’s line inputs and used the H4n’s built-in stereo mics to record ambiance.

What differences do you hear?