Topics covered in this article:
- Components and required interconnections using a Windows Rendering and Mastering Workstation (RMW) with MADI I/O and associated software and configuration
- Components and required interconnections of a Mac RMW with MADI I/O and associated software and configuration
- Components and required interconnections of a Windows or Mac RMW with Dante I/O and associated software and configuration
- Synchronization options and configurations
Introduction
The Dolby Atmos Renderer running on an external workstation licensed as the Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite is recommended for complex Dolby Atmos content creation, as it separates the CPU usage of the Dolby Atmos Renderer from that of the digital audio workstation (DAW). It also enables the use of multiple playback workstations as simultaneous sources for the Dolby Atmos Renderer, split for premix or editorial reasons.
This configuration requires a RMW with the Dolby Atmos Renderer software and a Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite license.
RMWs are purchased from authorized Dolby resellers and come preconfigured / tested with all necessary hardware and software.
RMWs with MADI I/O
Two configurations are available for RMWs that use MADI for sending digital audio to and from the DAW: systems with Windows-based RMWs and systems with Mac-based RMWs.
Primary Components of a Windows-Based MADI System
A Dolby Atmos RMW using MADI I/O and a qualified DAW consists of these primary components:
- Dolby Atmos RMW, a custom Dell 7920 workstation with the following components:
- Two RME HDSPe MADI cards preinstalled for 128 channels of I/O
- One RME TCO card preinstalled for LTC and clock input
- Dolby Atmos Renderer software installed and authorized with a supplied Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite license
- Mac-based DAW running supported software. This system includes the following components:
- Supported DAW software
- Hardware to connect 128 channels of I/O (such as two HDX cards in a Pro Tools Ultimate system) and MADI interface(s)
- Dolby Atmos Renderer Remote software (included with the Renderer installer)
(The Renderer Remote can optionally be installed on a separate Mac or Windows-based system to conserve screen real estate on the DAW system.)
- A synchronization peripheral such as the AVID SYNC HD to generate LTC for the RMW and for clocking the DAW to the same house Word Clock (WC) source.
The Dell 7920 will come with the proper RME drivers and firmware installed. Do not upgrade the drivers and firmware.
Two RME applications will be installed alongside the Dolby Atmos Renderer:
- Hammerfall DSP Settings Control Panel
- TotalMix FX
Both are accessible via the hidden icon symbol ^ on the right side of the Windows 10 taskbar as shown below.
Only the Hammerfall DSP Settings control panel needs to be accessed by the user to set the frame rate for the hardware and verify the proper sync settings per card.
The TotalMix FX application comes from the reseller with one tweak applied that resets outputs 1 and 2 to unity gain. The TotalMix FX application otherwise has no role and should only be used for troubleshooting. Making any gain, routing, or DSP adjustments will interfere with the proper function of the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
The RME TCO card accepts the clocking signal for the RMW and Dolby Atmos Renderer. Typically, this is Word Clock from a Master Clock (MC).
It is important that WC be distributed rather than daisy-chained between devices.
The RME TCO card also accepts the LTC input for synchronizing the Renderer with the DAW.
Primary Components of a Mac-Based MADI System
A Dolby Atmos RMW using MADI I/O and a qualified DAW consists of these primary components:
- Dolby Atmos RMW, a qualified Mac Mini, or Mac Pro with the following components:
- RME MADIface XT USB 3.0 Interface
- Dolby Atmos Renderer software installed and authorized with a supplied Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite license
- Mac-based DAW system running supported software configured as above
RMWs with Dante I/O
Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite v3.0 introduced support for both Windows and Mac-based RMWs that use the Dante audio-over-IP protocol for audio input and output. The Dante-based workstation configuration is quite similar between both platforms.
Dante-based RMWs require fewer connections to operate but more complex to set up than MADI-based systems, due to their routing and configuration.
Before working with Dante for the first time, we recommend watching the “Getting Started with Dante” and “Dante Controller 101” videos available from Audinate:
https://www.audinate.com/learning/training-certification/video-tutorials
Primary Components of a Dante-Based System
A Dolby Atmos RMW using Dante I/O and a qualified DAW consists of these primary components:
- Dolby Atmos RMW, a dedicated machine (approved Mac or Windows-based) with a Dolby-specified hardware configuration. The workstation includes the following components:
- Focusrite RedNet PCIeR Dante card preinstalled
- (A Mac Mini or Mac Pro 6 will require the use of an approved PCIe Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis. This will be Thunderbolt 2 or 3, depending on the Mac model.)
- Dolby Atmos Renderer software installed and authorized with a Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite license
- Audinate analog-to-Dante converter for LTC
- Mac-based digital audio workstation system running supported software. This system includes the following components:
- Supported DAW software
- Hardware to connect 128 channels of I/O (such as two HDX cards in a Pro Tools system) and Dante interface(s)
- Dolby Atmos Renderer Remote software
- The Renderer Remote can optionally be installed on a separate Mac or Windows system to conserve screen real estate on the DAW system.
- A Dante-compatible network switch with all devices connected in a “star” topology (each device on the network must connect directly to the Dante-compatible Ethernet switch).
- A synchronization peripheral such as the AVID SYNC HD to generate LTC for the RMW and for clocking the DAW to the same house Word Clock (WC) source.
The Dante RMW will come with two additional software applications:
- The Audinate Dante Controller:
- Used to route signals between the DAW, RMW, and Monitoring System
- Can be run from either the RMW or the DAW
- Sets the clock source and sample rate for the Dante network
- The Focusrite Rednet Application:
- Will be aware of other Focusrite Dante devices on the network, if any are present
- Should be set to follow settings from the Audinate Dante Controller
- Requires verifying sample rate and clock settings
Clock in a Dante Environment
Installations will vary, but in most cases one device (typically a DAW audio interface) receives WC from an external master clock (MC). In the Dante Controller, the audio interface is set to clock to an external source and is set as the MC for the Dante Network. All other devices should be set to slave. It is important that there be only one MC source in a Dante network.
Alternatively, if a facility has a master network Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock, that should be used as the network master, with all other devices set to slave.
Additional Information
On a Windows-based RMW, the Focusrite Rednet PCIeR settings panel will also be available to set the buffer size. The buffer size should be set to 512 samples. This setting is accessed from the Rednet Control application as shown below.
On a Mac-based RMW, the Focusrite Rednet PCIeR card will appear as an Audio Device in Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI setup. The Input and Output Format must be set as follows:
- 128-Ch 32-bit Float 48kHz
Dante and Other Networks
The Mac DAW and Dante RMW will often exist in an environment with two or more networks. It is important to keep these segregated, with all Dante devices on a dedicated switch or subnet separate from regular network traffic.
The same switch/subnet can be used to route both Dante audio and panning/size metadata from the DAW. Alternatively, the communication between the DAW and RMW can be established using a separate network connected to an additional network interface card on the RMW.
Synchronization Options and Configuration with the Dolby Atmos Renderer on RMWs
The LTC source for an RMW can be a synchronization peripheral or the Dolby LTC generator plug-in can be used as an alternative on DAWs without a synchronization peripheral.
LTC and MADI RMWs
On a Windows-based MADI RMW, synchronization is provided by a synchronization peripheral that generates LTC from the DAW (such as an AVID SYNC HD). LTC is connected directly to the RME TCO Synchronization Card. In the Dolby Atmos Renderer, the External Sync Source set to ASIO.
On a Mac-based MADI RMW LTC is received using an audio channel. In the Dolby Atmos Renderer, the External Sync Source set is to LTC over audio, and the input channel is specified.
LTC is connected via the analog Mic/Line input of the MADIfaceXT and routed internally via the RME TotalMix application. Alternatively, the LTC analog audio signal can be converted to MADI.
LTC and Dante RMWs
On both Mac-based and Windows-based Dante RMWs LTC is received using an audio channel. In the Dolby Atmos Renderer, the External Sync Source set is to LTC over audio, and the input channel is specified.
With Dante systems using a synchronization peripheral the LTC analog audio signal must be converted to Dante using an analog-to-Dante converter. This requires some extra steps in the Audinate Dante Controller.
The analog-to-Dante converter carrying the LTC needs to be routed to the desired audio input. Typically, this is receive channel 128 on the Focusrite PCIeR card. In order to retain use of Renderer inputs 125–127, a multicast flow must be set up on the last eight transmit channels of the Dante device, used for Renderer inputs 121–128, so that the analog-to-Dante converter used for LTC can be routed without occupying receive channels. (See the image below.)
Navigation
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