# Surround to Stereo Downmix a surround sound file (e.g., 5.1) to stereo > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-surround-to-stereo - **Category:** Media - **Keywords:** audio, surround, 5.1, downmix, stereo, lfe, center, surround, mix ## Overview Downmix surround audio (like 5.1) to stereo with controllable center, surround, and LFE contribution. Keeps left/right content intact while blending center dialogue and ambience at adjustable levels so the stereo mix remains clear and balanced. ## Inputs - **Audio File** (file): Select a surround audio file (e.g., 5.1) - **Center Mix Level (0-1.0)** (range): How much of the center/dialog channel to blend into stereo. - **Surround Mix Level (0-1.0)** (range): Ambience/rear contribution to the stereo mix. - **LFE Mix Level (0-1.0)** (range): How much sub/LFE energy to keep in stereo. - **Output Format** (select) ## When to use - When you need to play surround audio on stereo devices like headphones or standard speakers. - For editing or mixing audio in software that only supports stereo tracks. - To reduce file size while maintaining audio quality for distribution or streaming. ## How it works - Upload your surround audio file (e.g., 5.1 format in WAV, FLAC, or similar). - Adjust the mix levels for center, surround, and LFE channels using the provided sliders. - Select your preferred output format from options like MP3, AAC, WAV, or others. - Download the converted stereo file directly to your device. ## Use cases - Converting movie or TV show audio for playback on mobile devices or standard speakers. - Preparing surround soundtracks for podcast episodes or online video content. - Creating stereo versions of music mixes for wider distribution on streaming platforms. ## Frequently asked questions ### What audio formats are supported for input? The tool accepts common surround audio files, such as 5.1 encoded WAV, FLAC, or MP3, up to 200 MB in size. ### How do the mix levels affect the stereo output? Center level controls dialogue clarity, surround level adjusts ambient sounds, and LFE level manages bass content to balance the mix. ### Can I process multiple files at once? No, this tool handles one file per conversion to ensure precise control over each downmix. ### What is the default output format? The default is MP3, but you can choose from AAC, M4A, OGG, Opus, FLAC, or WAV based on your needs. ### Is there a limit on file size or duration? Yes, the maximum file size is 200 MB per upload, but there is no specific duration limit as long as the file size is within bounds. ## Related tools - [Audio Add Chapters](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-add-chapters): Add chapters to an audio file from a label/chapters file - [Audio Add Silence](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-add-silence): Add a specified duration of silence to the start or end of an audio file - [Audio Bit Depth Reducer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-bit-depth-reducer): Reduce the bit depth of an audio file (e.g., 24-bit to 16-bit) - [Extract Center Channel](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-center-channel-extract): Extract the center channel from a surround audio file or video audio track - [Audio Channel Mapper](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-channel-mapper): Remap audio channels to different outputs - [Audio Goniometer](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-goniometer): Render a polar stereo image to visualize width and panning - [Audio Join 5.1](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-join-5-1): Join six mono tracks into a 5.1 surround file - [Audio Join Stereo](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-join-stereo): Join two mono tracks into a single stereo file ## Samples - [Copyright-Free FLAC Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/flac-samples): Lossless FLAC audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [Copyright-Free MP3 Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/mp3-samples): Collection of royalty-free audio samples for testing and development purposes including nature sounds, meditation music, and ambient audio - [Copyright-Free WAV Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/wav-samples): Uncompressed PCM WAV audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [Copyright-Free Raw PCM Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pcm-samples): Raw PCM s16le audio samples featuring nature ambience and relaxing music for waveform, playback, and conversion workflows ## Related content - [Audio Channel Routing and Delivery Verification](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-channel-routing): Route, split, join, and convert mono or stereo audio while preserving left/right intent and checking the final file before delivery.