Upgrade your Studio with Dolby Atmos Capabilities

The right time to install Dolby Atmos is NOW. The music industry is being revolutionised with the latest Dolby Atmos adaption. Though it has almost been 30 years since it was introduced to the world. But we are getting the impact now.

Movie theatres are adapting it, smartphones with Dolby technology are emerging, Smart TVs, and home theatres with Dolby configuration are currently trending. Not utilising it may lead you to back foot in comparison to newcomers who have tasted it.

Like all the tech industries, the audio industry has always been evolving these years. The films are getting bigger, VFX rich, and with an immersive audio experience. On the other hand, we have come across mp3 format audio, moving audio, 3-D audio, and Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and coming next is spatial audio which, as per mentions, is only here to support Dolby tech.

( Also Read More – Best Practices to Set Dolby Atmos Mixing Speaker )

The Art of Immersive Audio: Dolby Atmos Explored:

The Dolby Atmos technology came in the late 90s and became a sensation then. However, the technology was then not supportive of this audio technology and therefore, we didn’t hear about Dolby for long 3 decades. But for the last 5–6 years, the industry has been adopting it as a mainstream way to share immersive experiences with audiences.

The sound industry today is going towards a more dynamic side. The motive is to engage the audience with heavy visuals with a strong story line. The audience should feel like the main character. They should listen and feel what the character is listening and feeling. This technology helps in world building of the narrative as well.

For example-

If a snake is passing by your left, only the left speaker will release sound waves and that, too, in a moving pattern. You will feel the depth, direction, and weight of the sound. This is called an Object-Oriented Sound System.

Note-

Don’t make the mistake of assuming moving audio as Dolby Atmos. They work on the two sides of headphones where both sides release different frequencies, causing an illusion of moving sound.

Dolby Atmos offers an immersive sound experience so that the audience can feel like being a part of it rather than a listener.

It enhances creative options for audio professionals who want new dynamics in their work.

Dolby can easily be integrated into the studio’s current workflow without making any sound hindrance.

Dolby is versatile and allows studios to cater to a variety of tasks from filmmaking to song production.

Dolby Atmos is the future of all audio formats. Revamping your studio for Dolby is a good future-proof idea.

Studio Upgrade Considerations:

Here we are, at the edge of an era which dealt with the mp3 format. Now, when Dolby is making sonic booms around the global sound industry, it’s time to move on and give your studio some upgrades as well. We will divide the upgrade process in five steps.

First analyse the existing audio setup in the studio. Make sure to find all the usable features about them such as speaker configuration, number of channels & their placements, processors, and compatibility with Dolby Atmos.

Verifying whether your speakers are Dolby Atmos supported or not. Be ready to buy a whole new set of speakers for fully-leveraged Dolby effect. The same goes with the current audio receivers and processors. You may need to upgrade your editing software and playback system as well to gain encoding and decoding compatibility.

Keep your budget in consideration. Also, look for a setup that would perfectly suit your studio’s size & acoustic character. Break down the budget for obtaining speakers, software, amplifiers, and other essential items.

Plan your installation in phases and plan accordingly. Upgrade the essential but critical components first and then go for the easy ones. Also, consider any downtime in operations.

Keep your upgrade open for future scalability, expansion, and advancement. Plan periodic reviews as well to keep the studio at its best results.

Dolby Atmos Installation Process:

Prepare your studio for the installation by cleaning it first.

Read the guidelines on Dolby Atmos setup and prepare a layout plan.

Begin with the overhead speaker followed by height speakers.

Setup all the speakers one by one as guided.

Enable the Dolby Atmos configuration in the audio receiver/processor and navigate the configuration options.

Install or replace your current audio software to support Dolby Atmos audio software.

( Everything You Require to Make a Dolby Atmos Requirement )

Real-world Applications and Industries:

1. Dolby Atmos in films:

Enhances the overall story telling style of the cinema.
Adding spatial audio with the Dolby Atmos immerses the audience into a wonderful immersive experience.
Blockbuster movies like ‘DUNE’ & ‘The Matrix’ have used it.

2. Dolby Atmos in Music Recording:

It opens the doorway of multidimensional music recording, which offers more space for creativity.
Listening to the Dolby Atmos also lets the audience experience an immersive sound journey into any story or podcast or song with layered sound pieces.

3. Dolby Atmos in Gaming:

Dolby dynamically enhances the gaming experience alongside spatial audio technology.

Game developers and audio designers believe Dolby to be the industry’s game changer.

Future Trends and Developments:

Dolby is still new to the music industry. Several studios are still making way for it, and we have a list of smart gadgets which support Dolby Atmos. However, there is always room for technological advancement.

Here are a few predictions as per current trends of sound technology.

The Dolby Atmos audio will gain more immersive advancement.
More complex spatial audio will make the sound realistic.
Individual audio immersive experiences will emerge where each listener will personalise the setting as per their wish.
Dolby Atmos will collaborate with AR and VR technology.
AI will play a heavy role in music production.

( Dolby Atmos Podcasts- How To Create and How they Impact? )

Conclusion:

Dolby Atmos has revolutionised the sound industry. It offers the audience an immersive experience and lets them be a part of the storytelling instead of being a listener only. The 3-D sound technology benefits all zones of the entertainment industry, including the gaming industry as well.

Dolby Audio has the power to transform the audio industry. Soon we may hear about more advanced technologies as AI has also become part of our professional work spaces. It would be wise.

For all of us to be ready for the next boom. Till then, enjoy the Dolby Atmos.