Getting Surround from Mono DVD

[s162216]

Hi,

I have recently got the reciever, fronts and centre for my first HT. I have a the complete James Bond collection and today I thought about watching one over my new HT. But to my disgust out all the 007 DVD's (most are on VHS) I have, only 4 have a 5.1 track, the other 3 only have a mono track (my favourite 3 as well).

Is there any way I can get a surround from the mono track? I know DPLII is pretty useless for this, but is there any other way?

 

[Adam]

If you're receiver has surround modes for music, perhaps you could use one of those to get the audio to go to all of your speakers.

Which three movies do you have that are in mono? I looked a bit online, and the movies that I saw had both the 2.0 mono track and a 5.1 track. I'm wondering if maybe those discs actually have a 5.1 track and you didn't notice it (no offense intended, it happens to all of us) or if other versions of those DVDs are out with 5.1 tracks that might be worth getting.

 

[s162216]

You Only Live Twice and Dr No. (Miscounted its actually 5 5.1 and 2 mono).
The versions I have are the older 2000 editions. Whats odd is that Thunderball has a 5.1 track, yet You Only Live Twice has only mono even though its newer and to my knowledge neither had a magnetic stereo track when it was originally released in the 60's.

 

[Seth=L]

A lot of current receivers actually have a DSP mode specifically for monoraul soundtracks, I know my Yamaha does and so did the past few receivers I had from Sony, Onkyo, probably a few others I don't remember.

 

[s162216]

I just tried some of the Sony DSP's. It sounds O.k, but seems like the fronts are just an echo and are very quiet, only the centre seems normal.

Is there any other better way I can do it?

 

[Adam]

If it were me, I'd watch a 2.0 mono track using just the stereo setting on my receiver.

Unless the sites that I'm looking at are wrong, Dr. No is available on DVD with a 5.1 track. I haven't found evidence on You Only Live Twice, yet.

 

[s162216]

Might as well just watch it in 2.0 mono I suspose then.

Pity as now it feels like something is missing after watching films with the centre for the past 2 weeks.

If I remeber, don't THX or someone do a feature on some recievers that upmixes mono to stereo?

 

[Adam]

Might as well just watch it in joined mono I suspose then.

Pity as now it feels like something is missing after watching films with the centre for the past 2 weeks.

I'd say use whichever mode sounds the best to you. Just cycle through them and see if any sound better than the others.

If you're speakers are placed well, then I wouldn't think that you'd be able to tell (at least, not very well) that you don't have the center channel on when playing a mono track. Hopefully the imaging of your front speakers is good and will make it sound like the audio is centered on your screen.

 

[s162216]

It sounds quite good, the speakers are currently about 3' to the left and right of my 14" 4:3 CRT TV until I can get my HTPC up and running again after a long year, locating all the parts after I accidently blew it up when replacing the cpu cooler. When it is running though, the onboard Soundstorm with the Dolby Digital Live will sound great, especially when I have got the rears and built the sub.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Might as well just watch it in 2.0 mono I suspose then.

Pity as now it feels like something is missing after watching films with the centre for the past 2 weeks.

If I remeber, don't THX or someone do a feature on some recievers that upmixes mono to stereo?

Not much you can do with a mono signal even if it is in two channels. No phase differences to play with in the processor so it is an abortion of a reproduction.

 

[lsiberian]

Agreed with most of the responses. Although my Logic surround settings do a very nice job for me. I stick to Blu-ray's when possible because of this.

 

[s162216]

The Sony movie DSP's did a fair job of directing the sound to all speakers, but it was too quiet to hear and sounded quite echoy or boomy.
When I get home I will try out the Pro Logic II Music as that might send it to all speakers. I would be happy then.

 

[s162216]

Success!!!

The PLII Music mode redirects the mono to all the speakers, it seems much better!

Thanks everyone!