SurroundByUs.com

1- If the stereo album does not have a distinct center, I personally don't think that there's anything wrong in a surround conversion that also doesn't have a discrete center channel; it's all about the end result: if you get a satisfying sound field, who cares how many playback channels are actually in use?

I've heard convincing surround from one center plus 2 back channels, no front L and R...

2- The Soundfield mic and associated Ambisonics encoding/decoding works quite OK for the recording of live events; but restricting the creation of new music to just the front soundstage, leaving the rest of the sound field for ambience only, IMHO is akin to calling electric and electronic instruments "unnatural" and thus restricting one's listening habits to purely acoustic music.

Besides, there's plenty of examples of music that was created from the get-go to envelope the listener; church organs are but one example, and there are classical pieces written with instruments (including choir) around and behind the listening area.

Modern live worship music is making strong use of surround, quite a few large temples have speakers set on the sides, behind, above and even in the middle of the seating area, and the live sound mix is tailored to "elevate" the listeners, enveloping them in the music to cause a stronger emotional impact.

This is similar to what happened in many old European churches: not only the organ had pipes all around the church, but the choir was divided in sections placed in different parts; one common arrangement was having the choir on each side and the organ pipes at the front and back.

You make several very strong points, Soundz. I personally like sitting in the middle of a rich soundfield, with a wide variety of sounds coming from all over the place. In my book, other than the main vocals which should come from the center "most of the time" (no strict rule), anything goes for me. I don't really ask myself if it is natural or not. I like to be surprised by original instrument placements. I don't think of a static orchestra standing in front of me, I think of sounds floating around me.

Interesting discussion. Keep it coming

I've acquired the "Electric Shiva" track in question. Will run some tests in the next few days and report back any settings I feel work well. From a listen to the stereo on that track, I do hear potential for a present center channel. I've been wrong before, though.

Still working with the "Electric Shiva." Here's what I can say...

The problem isn't really with any method. The problem is that this is a pretty badly mixed CD. I did some research, and "NT" actually refers to a local band from Las Vegas in the early part of this decade called Native Tongue (one of a million local bands with that name.) They released an album called "Electric Shiva" in 2000, and a Google search turned up an ad for a club show in support of the album. It's a local band's album. Alan Parsons and Dr. Dre, I imagine, were not brought in to consult.

I'm working mostly with a pre-release version of ArcTan right now with this. While I won't say there's no center, there's a lot panned hard right and hard left on many of the tracks, which really just leaves some drums, an occasional guitar, and just some "passing by" sounds in the center. It doesn't make for bad surround, but it just is what it is. There's actually several tracks on the album with some very nice effects in surround.

Being that this pre-release version of ArcTan contains controls for front and center width, playing with some extreme settings may bring some of that closer to the center, for some tracks. It's not needed on every track on the album. Will report back.....again.