Questions about Mixing, Mastering & Immersive Audio? Here you’ll find answers about formats, workflows and technical requirements.
What is the difference between stereo, 5.1, Dolby Atmos and 3D Audio?
Stereo uses two channels, left and right. It is the classic standard for music, podcasts and many TV and online productions.
5.1 is a multichannel format with six channels: front left and right, center, surround left and right, plus a subwoofer. It creates a more spatial sound field and is used for cinema, TV and streaming, among other applications.
Dolby Atmos takes this a step further: sounds are treated as individual objects and placed within a three-dimensional space, including the height dimension. This creates an immersive listening experience.
3D Audio is a general term for audio formats that enable spatial listening. These include Dolby Atmos, Ambisonics and binaural audio, among others.
What is “Immersive Audio” or immersive sound?
Immersive Audio makes sound a spatial experience. Instead of limiting sound to the traditional left-right plane, voices, music and sound effects can be perceived and precisely positioned within a three-dimensional space — in front, behind, above or below. This creates a more engaging listening experience, with greater presence, orientation and atmosphere. Immersive Audio is used in film, streaming, games, music, installations and presentations, among other applications. Dolby Atmos is one of the best-known formats for creating immersive sound.
How is spatial sound or “Immersive Audio” created?
Spatial sound is created through the interplay of recording, sound design and mixing. Voices, music, sound effects and atmospheres are positioned and moved within the space so that they feel natural and support the desired effect. Depending on the project, we work with existing recordings, sound libraries or sounds we create ourselves, using them to build an individual sound world. Everything is then mixed spatially in an immersive format such as Dolby Atmos and tailored to the target platform and format.
Why is Dolby Atmos worth considering for a production?
Dolby Atmos takes productions to the next level. Sound becomes more spatial, impressive, emotional and immersive.
Voices, music and sounds can be precisely positioned within the space, creating greater depth, intimacy and a sense of orientation. Especially for advertising, film, games, music and immersive experiences, this opens up new creative possibilities.
Dolby Atmos is already used across a wide range of applications, from cinema and streaming to headphone playback and automotive applications.
Where can 3D Immersive Audio be used?
Immersive Audio is suited to any application where sound is meant to be experienced spatially and enhance the impact of the content:
Advertising & branded content, for example for cinema and streaming
Music productions & live recordings
Film & TV series, particularly for streaming platforms
Games, virtual reality & 360° video
Events, exhibitions & installations with immersive or multichannel audio systems
Spatial sound creates a greater sense of presence, orientation and atmosphere, draws people into the action and can enhance attention and impact.
Can you listen to “Immersive Audio” through headphones?
Yes. Immersive Audio can be experienced not only in cinemas or through multichannel speaker systems, but also through headphones. Using binaural playback, spatial sound is rendered in a way that allows voices, music and sound effects to be perceived as coming from different directions.
Many streaming platforms and mobile devices now support immersive formats such as Dolby Atmos. Through headphones, this creates a spatial listening experience even though playback ultimately takes place through two channels.
Can you adapt existing projects for Dolby Atmos?
Yes. We can adapt your existing production for Dolby Atmos, provided the individual tracks or stems are available.
We analyse the existing material, prepare the individual elements for spatial positioning and remix the project for Dolby Atmos.
This can be particularly useful for existing content that is to be used for cinema, streaming or other immersive applications.
Which formats do you deliver for immersive productions?
We deliver the common formats for immersive productions, depending on the target platform and your requirements.
These include ADM BWF, Dolby Atmos Master Files (DAMF), MP4 for binaural delivery, as well as multichannel formats such as 7.1.4.
You’ll get exactly what you need – ready for delivery and precisely matched to the required technical specifications.