We’re quite sure you have heard the term ‘Dolby Atmos’ at some point. It certainly has become a buzz phrase not only in our industry, but among anyone who has kitted out their home with the latest home entertainment technology.
Pressure Cooker Studios is has been officially certified in Dolby Atmos for over a year now and we have a world-class Dolby Atmos Cinema in our studio, so we thought it was about time to write a series of blog posts to immerse you into the world of Dolby Atmos and explain it a little more for those that are interested.
“We handle Music and Sound for commercials, series, movies and games. All of these mediums can benefit from the innovation of audio technology like Dolby Atmos. A better, more immersive audio experience elevates the entire final product. We are always trying to deliver at the highest level to our Clients, so it was a no-brainer to have a Dolby Atmos Studio Setup, as this is the gold-standard globally in immersive audio technology.” Creative Executive Officer, James Matthes.
what is dolby atmos?
Dolby Atmos is an advanced audio technology developed by Dolby Laboratories that redefines the way sound is experienced in various entertainment media, including movies, television, music, and gaming. Dolby Atmos was first introduced in April 2012 and made its debut with the release of the Disney-Pixar animated film “Brave”, which was the first commercial film to feature the Dolby Atmos technology. Since then, Dolby Atmos has gained widespread adoption in both the cinema and home entertainment industries, as well as in the music and gaming sectors, offering audiences a more immersive and dynamic audio experience.
Unlike traditional audio systems that are typically limited to channel-based audio (e.g., stereo or surround sound), Dolby Atmos is designed to create a more immersive and realistic audio experience by adding height and object-based audio elements.This has revolutionised how we experience music and audio.
James Matthes simplifies it for us: ‘”Basically Dolby Atmos allows for a three-dimensional audio experience, which means that the sounds feel more life-like. Dolby Atmos isn’t just a technical improvement; it’s a creative breakthrough. At our studios we believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Music and Audio. Dolby Atmos empowers us to experiment and innovate like never before.”
Let’s break down the key features of Dolby Atmos:
Object-Based Audio: Dolby Atmos is object-based, which means that instead of being tied to specific channels, sounds are treated as individual objects in a three-dimensional space. Each sound source can be moved freely in any direction within a 3D environment.
Height Channels: In addition to the traditional surround sound channels, Dolby Atmos introduces height channels, which allow sounds to be placed above the listener. This adds a new dimension to the spatial audio experience, making it feel more immersive and natural.
Precision and Immersion: With Dolby Atmos, audio engineers have precise control over sound placement and movement, creating a more accurate and immersive experience. Sounds can move smoothly in all directions, including overhead, making the viewer or listener feel like they are inside the action.
Adaptability: Dolby Atmos is adaptable to a wide range of speaker configurations, from small soundbars to elaborate home theatre setups. It can also scale to larger commercial cinema environments.
Content Compatibility: Content created in Dolby Atmos can be played on compatible systems, allowing for a consistent experience across various platforms.
Our Cinema Specs: Our world class Dolby Atmos cinema is ideal for any recording or mixing requirements; with a 7.1.4 Genelec monitor system, 32 fader Yamaha Nuage mixing controller.
We believe in harnessing the full potential of this technology to create exceptional, immersive experiences for our clients.
Keep your eyes out for our next article in this Dolby Atmos series. We will be hearing from our Mix Engineer Kyle Koekemoer who will immerse us into the world of Dolby Atmos for film, from the point of view of a Dolby Atmos mixing engineer.
