I need help building my studio for surround sound mixing

[sean_slater]

Greetings and thank you in advance for any and all input. I am helping a friend build a studio for Surround sound mixing. On this budget, we have decided to go with Logic Pro because we already have that software and it integrates with Dolby Atmos which we have as well. The tricky part has been 1.) which interface to use and because of the limited budget and 2.) we are wondering if we can use Passive speakers with said interface. My research has lead me to the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 which has 20 inputs/20 outputs and seems like a great price at $600 for it's capabilities.
The passive speakers we are hoping to use are SVS's that were acquired through a Sony surround system's receiver.
Basically, will these speakers work with the 18i20 and power those passive speakers? If not, does that mean we need all new speakers and if so, who is making surround monitors? Also, we have an old Mackie Analog mixer that has 12 output channels which would be enough for surround, but a.) how do we then transfer an analog surround mixer to a digital interface? in other words, a standard interface will just carry a Stereo Left/Right signal. also, can the analog mixer even power passive speakers? I understand these speakers are not quality monitors but we are starving musicians and we are serious about learning to mix in surround. it is not just music but cinematic mixing as well. obviously, there are great depths of room as to what gear to get but for now we would like to get going with what we have and dont have. again, thank you for your inputs and please be nice much love

 

[staticV3]

Hi @sean_slater! Welcome to ASR.

Passive loudspeakers need a speaker amplifier to function. They cannot be powered by an audio interface, or an analog mixer alone.

That means that you need as many amplifier channels, as you want speakers.

If you want to go with active speakers instead, you'd buy normal studio monitors, then place them for Atmos mixing as fronts, sides, rears, and heights.

You will not find dedicated surround monitors or Atmos monitors, as there's really no point.

 

[Count Arthur]

Greetings and thank you in advance for any and all input. I am helping a friend build a studio for Surround sound mixing. On this budget, we have decided to go with Logic Pro because we already have that software and it integrates with Dolby Atmos which we have as well. The tricky part has been 1.) which interface to use and because of the limited budget and 2.) we are wondering if we can use Passive speakers with said interface. My research has lead me to the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 which has 20 inputs/20 outputs and seems like a great price at $600 for it's capabilities.
The passive speakers we are hoping to use are SVS's that were acquired through a Sony surround system's receiver.
Basically, will these speakers work with the 18i20 and power those passive speakers? If not, does that mean we need all new speakers and if so, who is making surround monitors? Also, we have an old Mackie Analog mixer that has 12 output channels which would be enough for surround, but a.) how do we then transfer an analog surround mixer to a digital interface? in other words, a standard interface will just carry a Stereo Left/Right signal. also, can the analog mixer even power passive speakers? I understand these speakers are not quality monitors but we are starving musicians and we are serious about learning to mix in surround. it is not just music but cinematic mixing as well. obviously, there are great depths of room as to what gear to get but for now we would like to get going with what we have and dont have. again, thank you for your inputs and please be nice much love

You can't connect passive speakers directly to the line/signal level output of an audio interface, mixer or pre-amplifier, etc..

I'm not sure how many speakers you need for Dolby Atmos, I've never really looked beyond 2 channels, but it looks as though the Scarlett has 10 output channels:

You either need to use active speakers, that have an amplifier built in, or you will need a power amplifier, or multiple power amplifiers, with enough channels for the number of passive speakers you're using.

 

[sean_slater]

Hi @sean_slater! Welcome to ASR.

Passive loudspeakers need a speaker amplifier to function. They cannot be powered by an audio interface, or an analog mixer alone.

That means that you need as many amplifier channels, as you want speakers.

If you want to go with active speakers instead, you'd buy normal studio monitors, then place them for Atmos mixing as fronts, sides, rears, and heights.

You will not find dedicated surround monitors or Atmos monitors, as there's really no point.

thanks for the reply. so i would basically need at least 5 new active studio monitors? is it possible to somehow use the receiver the passive monitors came with and somehow isolate each channel?

 

[Count Arthur]

How many channels/speakers do you need in total, 5?

I thought Atmos used more than that.

Also, what is the receiver that you have?