Dolby Atmos gives a magical experience every time when you’re in a room of 3-D audio. Think about your favourite action movie and assume that every gunshot and jump you see on the screen is happening in front of you, right now. Music & cinematography works when it makes you lose your ground and go against the reality of your world. It must take you to the dreamland where all the fantasies of Disney & Marvel are true and you are a character instead of just an audience.
The Dolby Atmos has the exact intent for all its audience. We understand why Dolby took so much time before becoming a mainstream trend. When it came into the market in the early 90’s, the music and film industry were not technologically compatible with the concept of 3D audio. Pricing and technological complications are two major factors for it as well.
Finally, after 20 years, the theatres and studios in real life have boosted their audience experience level just by implementing the Dolby Atmos 3-D audio technology. One major development that Dolby Atmos has entertained the audience with is the symphony it creates in the room. You in real feel the audio coming from its origin instead of all the corners making it different from real life. Not to tell, this suits the global Sci-Fi movies and heavy production music such as Avatar & MCU franchise.
Also Read More – Upgrade your Studio with Dolby Atmos Capabilities
Why is the Dolby Atmos So Famous?
The Dolby Atmos came in the early 90’s when the movie and music industry were going through major revolutions. The idea was to make a sound as realistic as possible. The developers placed several speakers in such a way that synchronises all the sounds present in a music or movie to make them feel moving.
Dolby focuses on the same concept to date and it works successfully. We surely have advanced devices and software to create 3-D audio pieces. Let me explain it first- these audio pieces include individual audio elements that are for specific objects. Point to remember, these sound elements move from speaker to speaker after rendering. This movement of sound elements makes moving objects more believable.
Let’s see it with an example.
- You see a car on the screen running after the antagonist. You are seeing the whole scenario as the main character. Now as the car crosses you, you can hear its sound moving from one side to another, treating you like the lead character of the movie.
- In a movie set in a jungle, the lead character is lost in the dense. The forest is dark & seems merciless to all. You, in the hall, can hear a snake rattling at the right corner, insects crackling on the trees, and the sound of water flowing nearby on the left. You will listen to all these sounds at once but you will be able to recognize the directions they are coming from.
- Have you ever heard 60’s or 70’s music? They were simple and generally used 2-3 instruments. However, with time, the instruments were added with each advancement. We currently have several devices which sometimes create clusters. Dolby Atmos places them with their rightful requirement and makes the audio smooth. You can listen to the vocals and instruments separately with incredible clarity.
Read More – Dolby Atmos Music – Experience Music Like Never Before
Facts About Dolby Atmos Technology?
Art is always magical. This is a pretty line every rom-com movie has shown us. Despite being super cliché, it’s true. Dolby Atmos takes its magic to another level. As we discussed above, the Dolby Atmos setup uses several speakers to create a 3-D effect realistic effect in the room. The idea is to bring a moving sound which engages the audience from their heart. But before we take you into the making of a magical experience, let’s make some points clear.
- Dolby Atmos uses different speaker configurations according to the room size. They are 3.1.2, 7.1.4, and 24.1.10.
- 24.1.10 is the most professional speaker configuration whereas 3.1.2 is the simplest Home theatre version of Dolby.
- Installing Dolby Atmos is still costly for a lot of artists.
- Dolby is complex to install and may need expert guidance.
- Dolby Atmos requires a specific rendering software for its rendering, mixing, and mastering. This process is multiple times more complicated than the traditional ones.
- Several electronic companies now support Dolby Atmos. You can enjoy the 3-D audio with your smartphone as well.
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Dolby Atmos Speaker Setup:
The simplest Dolby Atmos speaker configuration is 3.1.2 whereas 24.1.10 is the most professional one used in the biggest theatres. But if you’re using Dolby in a small theatre, there is no need to invest a lot of money. Buying in a more complicated setup will only complicate your experience & work.
Here is a basic way to set up your Dolby Atmos speakers to get 3-D audio. Let’s take 7.1.4 as a reference.
7- This number shows the number of surround speakers.
1- This shows the sub-woofers.
4- This number shows the number of overhead speakers.
Implement these points while setting up the Dolby.
- The surround speakers must be at your ear level.
- Set the first surround speaker at the front of the audience.
- Next surround speakers are needed to be set at angles of 30° and 60° accordingly. The angles change with speaker configuration.
- Set two overhead speakers on each side.
- Set those speakers in a way that all surround sound must be between them.
- Place the subwoofer beside the screen or smart TV.
( Read more – Dolby Atmos Podcasts- How To Create and How they Impact? )
Conclusion:
When it came out, Dolby Atmos 3-D audio technology was a revolution. It engages the audience like they are part of their movies or music. The audience feels each passing object and feels more like a fantasy land than reality.
The Dolby technology creates a symphony of sound in the air, making the audience sit in the theatre or in front of the screen more. Your music pieces suddenly get more depth and realism.
In this blog, we have tried to convey how Dolby Atmos has changed the whole music & film industry. And we leave to guess the next big thing. Well, that’s a secret for us too.
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