10.6

Table Of Contents
908Logic Pro User Guide
Speaker placement, timing, and levels
Set up surround speakers for use in Logic Pro
The physical positioning of speakers is key to creating mixes in Logic Pro that translate
well to other surround playback systems. Because the 5.1 format is the most widely used,
this section covers 5.1 speaker placement. Much of this information can be applied to the
other formats.
Front speakers
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) 5.1 surround definition states that front
speakers should be arranged left, center, and right, with the angle between the left or right
and center speakers being 30degrees. A narrower angle of 22.5degrees is suggested for
use in cinematic systems where the left and right speakers should be within four degrees
of the edge of the screen.
In the studio, you should use the wider 30-degree angle, even if scoring for film. Use of
this angle allows stereo signals to be auditioned correctly using the left and right speakers,
without moving them each time you switch between stereo and surround mixes.
The three front speakers—left, center, and right—should be placed in an arc (not a straight
line) at an equal distance from your listening position. The center speaker should be set
back slightly from an imaginary line drawn between the left and right speakers. If this isn’t
practical, don’t place the center speaker closer to the listening position than the left and
right speakers. All three speakers should be at the same height—at ear level.
If possible, your listening environment should also include a position where the left
and right speakers are at an angle of 45 to 60degrees from the ideal central “viewing”
position. An angle close to 45degrees is preferred if watching movies, as it approximates
the way film soundtracks are mixed and monitored. A wider angle, with the left and right
speakers farther apart, is recommended if your system is principally used for listening to
music, rather than watching movies.
It’s not essential to have a full surround setup in the studio. If you have a home theater
system, make your surround mix in the studio, then listen to or watch it in your theater
room.
Surround speakers
The rear speakers (surround channels) should ideally be placed at the same distance from
your listening position as the front speakers, at an angle of 110degrees from the front
center speaker. This angle is a compromise between producing an all-encompassing sound
stage (at 90degrees) and the best rear-quadrant imaging (at 135degrees).
The surround speakers should be placed alongside and slightly to the rear of (but not
directly behind) the listening position, well above ear level, to help minimize localization
effects. They should be aimed across the listening area, not directly at the listening
position.