Everything You Need to Know About Adding Dolby Atmos to Your Studio

By Bryon Low, Senior Account Manager, Annex Pro

Redefining the entertainment experience
Dolby’s mission has always been to create the strongest bond possible between artists, their stories, and the world. As the driving force in sound innovation, Dolby Atmos Music pushes the boundaries and frees music to be expressed and experienced as intended. Welcome to music reborn in Dolby.

Can I listen to Dolby Atmos Music on headphones?
Dolby Atmos Music can be experienced on headphones with a Tidal HiFi subscription. This is available only to users of Android devices at this time.

I want to mix music in Dolby Atmos – what do I need to do this?
First, you need 12 speakers, like in the picture below:

What software do I need?
You will need Avid Pro Tools Ultimate and Dolby Mastering Suite software.

What hardware do I need?
You will need Avid HD Native Thunderbolt interface or HDX DSP card, MTRX Studio or MTRX and a Dolby supported RMU computer to write a Dolby ADM master file.

What if I don’t want to buy an RMU computer?
If you don’t want to purchase an RMU computer, then all you need is Dolby Production Suite software.  However, you will need to go to a studio with a Dolby RMU to create your master Atmos file.

How do I pan my audio all around me?
Avid Pro Tools Ultimate software has a built in surround panner on each channel that will allow you to pan your audio all around you. You can also use the Avid Control APP on your iPad, available for free from the App store.

Why do I need speakers on my ceiling?
Dolby Atmos is an immersive experience that completely surrounds you from all sides, including above you, so you will require speakers on your ceiling for the full experience.

How do I play back Dolby Atmos in my living room?
You need a Dolby Atmos equipped TV, Soundbar, or Amazon Echo Studio speaker system to play Dolby Atmos in your living room.

I live in a condo and can’t put speakers in my ceiling. Does that mean I can’t have Dolby Atmos?
If you are unable to put speakers in your ceiling, you can use an Atmos equipped Soundbar and Amazon Echo Studio Smart speaker instead. They have speakers that reflect up to the ceiling and down to your listening position.

NAMM 2020: the MTRX family gets a new member

Avid MTRX Studio

SRP $6,499

FEATURES

• Analog I/O – 16 in/out
• 64 channels DigiLink I/O
• Dual Headphone Jacks
• Digital I/O – 16×16 ADAT
• MADI I/O – No
• Dante I/O – 64×64
• Immersive Monitoring – 7.1.4 Atmos
• Monitor Control – Yes
• Speaker Calibration – Yes
• Cross Point 512 x 512 Digital Matrix
• EUCON Enabled – Yes

WHY BUY MTRX STUDIO

• Fully configured, everything you need out of the box
• Use MTRX Studio in smaller rooms for premixing, off line deliverables while monitoring in 7.1.4 freeing up the mix stage for creative use
• Create Sound Design in a 7.1.4 environment
• Score and mix music tracks in a 7.1.4 environment
• 64 channels of onboard Dante to Dolby RMU
• Dual onboard high resolution microphone preamplifiers
• Dual onboard assignable headphone jacks
• High resolution metering with master volume control
• 16 channels of ADAT IO to connect to third party line microphone preamplifiers
• Built in SPQ speaker processing with 256 filters on 16 channels, delays management adjustable up to 150ms per channel bass, with individual precise bass management settings
• Summing matrix with 256×16 Monitor Groups, Fold Downs, Group Format monitor profiles

AVID MTRX

SRP $6,499

FEATURES

• Analog I/O – Option card required $5,398. 16 Chan DA
• 64 channels DigiLink I/O
• Digital I/O – 16×16 AES/EBU
• MADI I/O Coax – Yes – 64 Chan expandable to 128 Chan
• MADI I/O Optical – Option card required $3,575. 128 Chan
• Dante I/O – Option card required 64 Chan $749. 128 Chan SRP $2,999.
• Immersive Monitoring – 7.1.4 Atmos
• Monitor Control – Yes
• Speaker Calibration – Option card required SRP $2,899.
• Cross Point 1500 x 1500 Digital Matrix
• EUCON Enabled – Yes

WHY BUY MTRX

• Modular configuration – Add up to 8 option cards
• Stack multiple MTRX’s for greater routing flexibility
• Host Pro Tools Dialog, M&E stem players, Recorder systems and Dolby RMU in one 2U chassis optional
• Add multiple 128 chan DigiLink option cards
• Connect to MADI hardware anywhere in your facility via MTRX option cards via coax or optical
• Do Stream Box real-time reviews and approvals with the MTRX SDI option card
• Do large live recording shows with multiple MTRX 8 channel Analog Mic preamp option cards
• 16 channels of onboard AES to digital speakers
• Add up to 196 channels of Dante for Dolby RMU and additional Dante streams
• Optional SPQ speaker card processing with 1024 filters on 128 channels, delays management adjustable up to 800 ms per channel bass, with individual precise bass management settings
• Summing matrix with 256×32 Monitor Groups, Fold Downs, Group Format monitor profiles

Avid HDX Thunderbolt 3 Systems

Why choose Pro Tools | HDX Thunderbolt 3?

• Pro Tools HDX is the DSP nerve centre and hardware extension of Pro Tools Ultimate software, making your fully optimized hardware, software and control surface system a reality
• HDX with 18 DSP chips and 74 AAX plugins provides unrivaled power with the industry’s most powerful and reliable DSP platform
• Track with near zero latency at 0.7 milliseconds across multiple complex headphone mixes; capture stellar performances without technology getting in the way
• Integrate your favourite outboard gear automatically into Pro Tools Ultimate without needing to manually calibrate hardware delay compensation
• Connect to your Thunderbolt 3 desktop or laptop with HDX in a convenient super quiet integrated chassis
• Travelling? Just add a Mac Mini inside the Avid HDX Thunderbolt 3 chassis and your choice of multiple IO options for a fully mobile system
• Includes Pro Tools Ultimate software
• Available bundled with MTRX Studio, HD Omni, HD MADI, HD 8x8x8, HD 16×16, HD 16x16D From $9,000. To $13,000. (CAD$ estimate only )

Apple Mac Pro 2019

Music and Audio Post configurations in CAD$

Tower pricing

$8,819
3.5GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz
48GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
2TB SSD Storage

$10,019
3.3GHz 12-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz
48GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
2TB SSD Storage

$12,059
3.2GHz 16-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz
96GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
4TB SSD Storage

5u Rack pricing

$9,449
3.5GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz
48GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
2TB SSD Storage

$10,649
3.3GHz 12-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz
48GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
2TB SSD Storage

$13,409
3.2GHz 16-Core Intel Xeon W Processor Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz
96GB 4x6GB DDR4 ECC Memory
Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB of GDDR Memory
4TB SSD Storage

Apple Care 3 Year Warranty $349

Pro Tools Ultimate 7.1.4 Atmos Music Production Flow Chart

Pro Tools Ultimate 7.1.4 Atmos Post Production Flow Chart
Pre Mixing, Sound Design, Deliverables

Avid MTRX Atmos Home Theatre Dual Operator Configuration

Who can I talk to help me pick out the right stuff to buy?
Talk to us! Contact us here..

About Bryon Low

Bryon Low has been with Annex Pro since 1989, giving him an incredible history and vast experience working with the media and entertainment industry. Bryon jumped in at the beginning of the digital revolution in the mid 1980s as it was starting, and he has been servicing some of his customers for as long as 35 years.

Bryon was a forerunner in recognizing the value that Dolby Atmos could bring and has become a resident expert in the technology. He understands the current and emerging trends and can be counted on to provide the highest level of consultation when it comes to addressing the needs of today’s studios.

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