How to link 6 mono tracks as 5.1 to make a DCP in Resolve

Sometimes you need to make the DCP from a video file that has separate audio mono tracks.

A DCP 5.1 mix is often delivered as 6 mono tracks in 24-bit 48 kHz wav format.

To convert them to a 5.1 timeline track that can be used in a DCP, you can link 6 mono tracks as 5.1 in Fairlight. This tutorial shows how you do this.

You can also add the audio files to a 5.1 track directly in Resolve 18.6. Read more in this post. When you add them as 5.1 track you can run loudness check on them.

Add the 6 mono track to the timeline

Go to the Edit module

Make 6 mono audio tracks

Right-click on the first audio track
Change Track Type To – Mono

Right-click and
Add Track – Mono
5 times

Import the tracks to the media pool

Drag the tracks to the media pool

Add the tracks

Drag the 6 mono audio files in the correct order to the tracks

1=L
2=R
3=C
4=LFE
5=LS
6=RS

Link the tracks as 5.1 in Fairlight

Switch to Fairlight

Make a 5.1 bus

(Optional)

Choose Fairlight in the menu

Bus format

Format = 5.1

Link the tracks

Fairlight in the menu – Link Group
Click on all the tracks

and choose

Link as = 5.1

Check the tracks

Go back to the Edit module and check that the tracks are correct.
They are now labeled:
L
R
C
LFE
Ls
Rs

Make the DCP

Go to the deliver pane and render the DCP the same way you would normally do.

See this Resolve post for more info. Or read my ebook.

Choose DCP – Kakadu

Audio
Output Track 1 = Timeline Track
Track number = 1 5.1