There is no doubt that Dolby Atmos is becoming a mainstream technology. But this shift of technology still has some time. This technology will soon sweep away everything else in the sound industry. The technology allows its listeners to feel the music from 3-dimensions. More specifically, it understands the sounds present in the videos and arranges them according to their need, space, and importance. With Dolby Atmos, you will hear going above your head, a dog barking beside you, and music played by a guitarist in the back. The 3-D sound system lets you enjoy the sounds as realistic. You will not only hear but feel the position of the sound source. That’s how the sound industry is going to be changed. It will become more realistic, engaging, and entertaining, but in some cases may be fearful.
With advancement, technology will make working more complex than earlier. Mixing and mastering will need more expert hands & focused eyes. If you already have Dolby Atmos technology or are searching for it, here are some tips to make your work easier.
1. Understanding the Technology:
Dolby Atmos is a new technology and our music industry still isn’t very familiar with it. Although we go by the quote ‘experience is learning’, we understand the importance of studying before giving an exam. And therefore our foremost suggestion to all before Dolby Atmos mixing is to understand the technology and its working methods. This uses object-based audio to create depth in the audience experience. Unlike traditional stereo audio, it can set up audio pieces anywhere in the 3-Dimensional space to create a more realistic sound experience. The dynamic of this technology is big and complex, giving you more freedom to go creative but face more complexity.
2. You will Need More Speakers:
The new technology uses the 3-dimensional plane to place the sound source. You will need a complete set of speakers to gain full efficiency of this arrangement. Ideally, Dolby Atmos suggests using 22 speakers for the most dynamic sound experience but we know that it will not be possible for each studio out there. Neither do they have the speakers nor a big room to place them. The room must also be free from all unwanted sound reflections. Alongside the positioning of the speakers also have their technical importance. On the other hand, Dolby Atmos allows you to work on the 7.1.4 speaker layout that needs only 11 speakers and an LFE channel to work on.
Clearly, Dolby Atmos is not for work from home kinda situation. It is also not affordable. You can go for other ways though. Use headphones and Dolby Atmos plugins in your system to create a binaural version of 3-dimensional music. Although it will not truly represent the Dolby sound, it certainly will show the magic to the audience who listen to music/podcasts with headphones on.
3. Variation of the Dolby Atmos Mix:
The Dolby Atmos technology is different from your previous experiences. Here you will have to take into account the devices people will use to listen to your podcast/music. Stereos offer you a standard practice to test your final mix on several devices such as laptops, headphones, speakers, and smartphones. The idea is simple- to make sound good on all platforms & all hardware devices. On the other hand, Dolby Atmos mixing will serve you with more complications. The speaker layout 7.1.4, 9.1.2, or 5.1.2 will sound different than a Dolby Atmos render for headphones.
Moreover, this is not the only render you will have to work for. Apple has launched its own Apple Renderer on Logic Pro for the distribution of music. Some companies may go for the same. You have to be aware that your listener can use any device from a headphone to a soundbar or computer with in-built surround features. This will take more time in preparation but that’s all will be worth it.
4. Understand the Speaker Placement:
3-Dimensional effect of sound requires special placement of speakers. Above we have discussed the total number of speakers you will need to create such an immersive sound experience. Know that there is more to care for. The placement of each speaker holds the secret of the 3-D sound effect. Place your front left, front right speakers, and central speakers at ear level. Keep the surround and overhead speakers above the listener. This placement is ideal and essential for a creative, accurate, and immersive mix.
5. Using the Right Tools:
For creating such a next-level sound experience, you will have to get the right tools needed for it. Mixing Dolby Atmos will cost you some new tools. You will need the Avid S6 mixing console as an essential tool. Alongside be ready with Dolby Atmos panning, object automation, and object-based EQ. Dolby Atmos plugins for creating waves for processing individual sounds will also be needed.
If you’re going for a speaker arrangement, you will have to buy some additional hardware. You have three options and you can go with any of them.
-Buy Dolby Atmos production suite for Mac. Note this will not work on computers but has integration for Apple Logic Pro, Avid Pro Tools Ultimate, Steinberg Nuendo, and Ableton Live.
– Buy a Dolby Atmos mastering suite that operates on a PC or Mac dedicated to the software separately. You will need a separate computer for DAW and a compatible audio interface (MANDI or Dante I/O).
– Use the Dolby Atmos Plugin in Logic Pro. Update if you’re already a user of this software.
6. Preparing the Mix:
Here is a not-so-pro tip but an important one. Before you mix the music in Dolby Atmos, you must be careful about the mix. Your final mix must be clear of any unwanted noise and disruption. You should go for panning the tracks and EO to create a cohesive soundstage. And don’t forget to add multiple stems for the mix such as bed, objects, and overhead stems. All this comes under the optimization of the mix for Dolby Atmos.
7. Work only with an Expert Engineer:
Finally, you need an expert to work on Dolby Atmos. Search for a person who has specialized knowledge and experience in creating immersive sound with Dolby technology. Unless you are a super genius in modern sound engineering, don’t try it alone. It will save hours of your work.
Conclusion:
We have to admit that despite such a wonderful technological advancement, preparing the Dolby Atmos setup in a studio is no joke. Multiple speakers and tools will cost hundreds of dollars now. Moreover, till the technology becomes common among smartphones, the music industry will not leave the stereo version of music. But now or then, Dolby Atmos will make its place in the market and rule it. It is better to understand it and be ready to adopt it thoroughly. In this article, we have discussed 7 things you must consider before mixing your music in Dolby Atmos. Now that you know all of them, I wish you fortunes for your work.