Uncompressed or Dolby Digital?

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

I know what an LFE channel is, (I record and mix in multichannel on a daily basis) however, in the realm of consumer gear, that still falls under Bass Management, even if it is just redirecting low frequencies. It is, essentially, creating an LFE. 'Reprocessing', if you will. Where do you find the settings for this feature on most gear? Under Bass Management, because that is what it is. It is managing the bass frequencies.

Create essentially means to make something from nothing. To produce. Using that definition you are incorrect in your assertion that you are creating a LFE by using a filter. Bass management as created by consumer products allows for bass in the main channels to be directed to a subwoofer for use with ALL supported formats. Bass management as defined by SMPTE standards does not apply to 2.0 stereo because it is not uniformly supported by all receivers and DVD players in the field. It is a hit and miss proposition or an option. The term bass management does universally apply to 5.1 signals because all components that support 5.1 signals can process it universally. However for the sake of keeping things simple, you can use the term as you please.

You are mixing LFE and subwoofer together. I can have a LFE channel even in the absence of a dedicated subwoofer. It is in fact an actual channel. There is no such thing as a subwoofer channel per se, because it is not created. It is for redirecting purposes only. The act of filtering bass and moving it to the subwoofer channel is not creating a LFE channel, it is simply filtering and directing bass to a bass capable channel. Totally different process. You cannot create a LFE channel outside of the studio, but you can filter and send bass to a subwoofer. The LFE can be directed to the most bass capable channel (that could include the L/R mains). There is no LFE channel in 2.0 stereo to redirect, however there is bass that can be filtered and directed to a sub.

A LFE channel, and a subwoofer output are not the same thing.