Module 3.2 – Renderer Installer Components

The Dolby Atmos Renderer is available for download as a .dmg file and a .zip file.

The Renderer software can be downloaded from the Dolby Professional Support site.

In the Mac environment, the .dmg file is a unified installer for both external Renderer systems and internal Renderer installations, with components individually selectable.

The .zip file is for use on Windows systems running as an external Renderer.

The Dolby Atmos Renderer is licensed using iLok. An iLok account is required, and the iLok License Manager application must be downloaded and installed from ilok.com.

License codes are redeemed using the iLok License Manager application and are supplied by the Mastering Suite reseller or deposited directly into an iLok account with the purchase of the Dolby Atmos Production Suite from the Avid online store.

Licenses for the Dolby Atmos Renderer can be activated on a physical iLok USB key or directly on the CPU where the Renderer is located.

Once the code has been redeemed and the license is visible in the account, the license can be dragged and dropped to a physical iLok key in the left column or activated directly on the icon of the CPU where the Renderer is located.

The Dolby Atmos Renderer is installed in the Applications/Dolby/Dolby Atmos Renderer folder on a Mac, in both the root and user Applications folders. On Windows, the Dolby Atmos Renderer is installed in the Program Files\Dolby\Dolby Atmos Renderer directory location.

The Mac installer also installs the Dolby Renderer Send and Return plug-ins for use with the Dolby Atmos Renderer running on the same Mac as Pro Tools.

The Renderer Remote provides full remote control of the Dolby Atmos Renderer application running on a dedicated RMW. It is intended to be installed on either the DAW workstation or a separate PC or Mac to control a Windows or Mac-based RMW on the same network. The Renderer Remote is installed in the Applications/Dolby/Dolby Atmos Renderer folder on Mac, in both the root and user Applications folders.

On Windows the Renderer Remote is installed in the Program Files\Dolby\Dolby Atmos Renderer folder.

The Dolby Atmos Renderer Remote does not require a license and connects to the Renderer via ethernet using the IP address or host name of the RMW.

The Dolby Audio Bridge is used only with the Dolby Atmos Renderer installed on the same Mac as the DAW. It provides 130 channels of DAW output via Core Audio emulation to the Renderer inputs.

To use the Dolby Audio Bridge, set the Dolby Audio Bridge as the Playback Engine in Pro Tools or the equivalent setting in other DAWs.

When the Dolby Atmos Renderer is launched on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and later for the first time the Dolby Atmos Renderer must be given access to the Microphone for the Dolby Audio Bridge to function. A dialog box will display upon first launch prompting access to the Microphone.  Note that if Renderer application is denied microphone access on the first launch, this can be fixed by entering "tccutil reset Microphone" in Terminal.

The Dolby LTC Generator plug-in v2.0 is provided as an AAX, AU and VST3.

It provides LTC for synchronization to the Dolby Atmos Renderer running on the same Mac as the DAW or an external workstation. To preserve all 128 channels of audio for Beds and Objects, LTC is typically routed to output 129 or 130 when using the Dolby Audio Bridge.  If the LTC Generator plug-in is used with the Dolby Atmos Renderer running externally on an RMW, output 128 is generally used and that Renderer input will be unavailable for program audio.

For use with Pro Tools Ultimate, the Dolby LTC Generator plug-in is installed in the /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-ins folder in both the root and user Applications folders.

Within Pro Tools Ultimate, the LTC Generator AAX Plug-in is located in: multi-mono plug-in > other > Dolby LTC Generator.  It is designed to be inserted on an audio track and assigned to a dedicated output.

The plug-in generates LTC at the same frame rate as the session/project, following the session position and transport. No user interaction is required.

 In Logic Pro, the LTC Generator AU Plug-in is designed to be used in the Instrument slot on a Software Instrument track. It is located in AU Generators > Dolby Laboratories > Dolby LTC Generator > Mono (use the mono version of the plug-in).

All four of these templates have the first 10 outputs configured to use a 7.1.2 Bed. The remaining outputs and tracks are assigned to Objects. The stereo templates use stereo outputs (with mono subpaths available), and all audio tracks that are assigned to Objects are stereo.

Note: In actual practice, most sessions use a combination of stereo and mono Object tracks. Since the stereo template has stereo outputs/busses with mono subpaths, it is the most flexible and useful. The stereo templates are a good starting point for new sessions.

When the Pro Tools Dolby Audio Bridge templates are installed, corresponding I/O files (.pio) are installed in the Documents/Pro Tools/IO Settings folder to be used in conjunction with the templates.

The Nuendo templates are meant to be used with the Dolby Audio Bridge but can be modified to work with an external Renderer on a separate workstation. It is set up for 128 outputs, with the first 10 outputs configured to use a 7.1.2 Bed. The remaining 118 outputs are for Object audio and configured as mono outputs. The template is installed in the Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Nuendo 10/Project Templates folder.  The native SMPTE Generator plug-in is used and routed to output 129.

Templates for both Nuendo v10 and v11 are provided.

Documentation .pdf(s) are installed in the Applications/Dolby/Dolby Atmos Renderer folder on Mac and the Program Files\Dolby\Dolby Atmos Renderer folder on Windows. There is also contextual help within the Renderer application.

The Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in (shown below) is useful for positioning audio Objects in a Dolby Atmos Music mix.  It can also be used with DAWs that don’t have native immersive panning capabilities. 

The Dolby Atmos Music Panner installer includes AAX, AU, and VST3 versions. This plug-in allows Object audio to be positioned in a three-dimensional audio field, the same way as the native panner in Pro Tools or other 3D immersive panning plug-ins in other DAWs. Additionally, it includes several unique panning patterns and a sequencer for synchronizing object movement to the DAW tempo.

Note that the Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in writes plug-in automation as opposed to panning automation.

The Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in installer includes templates for Pro Tools (and a companion I/O settings file), Ableton Live, Logic, and Nuendo.

The Dolby Atmos Conversion Tool

The Dolby Atmos Conversion Tool is a fully featured UI-driven application that is capable of opening the .xml files required to perform complex edits in previous versions.