Module 4.2 – Preferences and Settings

Topics covered in this article: 

• Driver 
  • Setting Input/Output devices for the specific Renderer configuration 
  • Setting Synchronization for the specific Renderer configuration 
  • Setting frame rate for the master file and hardware – Windows-based MADI 
  • Setting sample rate 
• Working at 96kHz 
• Processing 
  • Spatial coding emulation 
  • Output limiting 
• Speaker processing 
• Headphone processing
• Re-render processing 
• Headphone processing 

Introduction 

The Dolby Atmos Renderer needs to be configured to work with the external hardware when running on a Rendering and Mastering Workstation (RMW), or with the Dolby Audio Bridge when running on the same CPU as the DAW. Additional settings are also necessary to adapt to the preferred workflow and monitoring environment. 

Launching the Renderer 

Launch the Renderer from the following location for the operating system used: 

• Windows – C:\Program Files\Dolby\Dolby Atmos Renderer\ rendererApp.exe 
• Mac – Applications/Dolby/Dolby Atmos Renderer/Dolby Atmos Renderer 

Accessing Preferences and Settings 

Access the Settings/Preferences page for the Render from the following location: 

• Windows – Menu bar – File/Settings 
• Mac – Menu bar – Dolby Atmos Renderer/Preferences  

The Preferences and Settings page displays several tabs on the left side: 

Driver Tab 

The Driver tab is where primary configuration for the available I/O hardware and software takes place. This should be set based on the configuration used. 

On Windows-based MADI systems configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: ASIO 
• Audio input device: ASIO Hammerfall DSP 
• Audio output device: ASIO Hammerfall DSP 
• External sync source: ASIO Sync 

On Windows-based Dante systems configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: ASIO 
• Audio input device: ASIO Focusrite Rednet PCIe 
• Audio output device: ASIO Focusrite Rednet PCIe 
• External sync source: LTC over audio 
• LTC input channel: 128 

On Mac-based MADI systems configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: Core Audio 
• Audio input device: RME MADIface XT 
• Audio output device: RME MADIface XT 
• External sync source: LTC over audio 
• LTC input channel: 128 over MADI or 129 via Analog Mic/Line Input 

On Mac-based Dante systems configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: Core Audio 
• Audio input device: Focusrite Rednet PCIe 
• Audio output device: Focusrite Rednet PCIe 
• External sync source: LTC over audio 
• LTC input channel: 128  

On a Mac running the Renderer internally using Core Audio configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: Core Audio 
• Audio input device: Dolby Audio Bridge 
• Audio output device: Core Audio Interface (as appropriate) 
• External sync source: LTC over audio 
• LTC input channel: 129 

Use of MIDI Time Code (MTC) is also an option. However, Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) is recommended over MTC, especially for punch-ins operations. 

On a Mac running the Renderer internally using Send/Return plug-ins with Pro Tools configure the settings as follows: 

• Audio driver: Send/Return plug-ins 
• Audio input device: NA 
• Audio output device: NA (monitoring is via Pro Tools) 
• External sync source: Sync/Return Sync 

Headphone only mode: Enabling Headphone only mode will supersede and disable other settings including Speaker and Headphone outputs. The Routing for Headphone only mode will likewise supersede existing routing. Default is off and routing to 1L & 2R. 

Frame rate: Frame rate is set prior to creating a new master file. If a master file is currently open, the display will be grayed out. Options are 23.976fps, 24fps, 25fps, 29.97fps, 29.97fps DF, and 30fps. 

Note: On Windows-based MADI systems, the frame rate must also be set on the TCO card via the Hammerfall DSP Settings control panel (opened from hidden icons on the task bar). The frame rate must match the Renderer settings for both new and open master files to chase LTC. 

Sample rate: 48 kHz or 96kHz 

Notes for working at 96kHz: 

• 96kHz master files are for archive only and cannot be used for encoding without being converted to 48kHz using the Dolby Atmos Conversion Tool.   
• 96kHz master files cannot be exported to ADM BWF or IMF IAB from the Dolby Atmos Renderer.   
• DAW buffer size should be 2048. 
• Master Clock should be set to 96kHz. 

Additional steps must be taken on Windows-based MADI systems when working at 96kHz: 

• RME Hammerfall DSP Settings control panel: 
  • TCO Tab: Set the Sample Rate to “from App” and the correct Frame Rate. 
  • Use 48k Frame to maintain 64 channels per card.  
  • MADI 1 + MADI 2 Tabs: Set the Sample Rate to 96kHz and Buffer Size to 1024. 
    • In order to change the sample rate the buffer must be set to 1024.  
    • Once the sample rate drop-down is active and changed to 96kHz the buffer size will be set automatically to 2048. 
    • Reset buffer back to 1024.  
    • Repeat in the second MADI tab for the 2nd MADI card. 
• A properly configured RMW licensed with the Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite can handle recording and playback of 96 tracks at 96kHz. With older Windows-based hardware such as the Dell 7910, this should be limited to 64 tracks at 96kHz. Care should be taken when exceeding the recommended track count. High track counts coupled with very active Object Audio Metadata can result in errors. These will appear in the logs as missed deadline errors. 

Processing Tab 

Spatial coding emulation – Turn on/off to audition the effect of spatial coding, which takes place during encoding. Default is on. 

Number of elements – Set the number of elements used for spatial coding emulation to 12, 14, or 16. Default is 14 elements.  

Output limiting – The Soft clip limiter is applied to speaker outputs, headphones (stereo), and re-renders when enabled. This also mimics the limiting applied during encoding. Default is On. 

Speaker Tab 

Speaker processing – Used to turn on/off the speakers for monitoring. Turn this off when monitoring over headphones. Headphone only mode will turn off the speakers, but enabling headphone monitoring will not. 

Bass management – Speaker mode functions as normal bass management, redirecting low frequencies from the speaker feeds post-rendering. Object mode extracts low frequencies below the threshold before rendering. If using a monitor control system that already has bass management, be sure to set this to Off in the Frequency menu drop-down. 

Headphone Tab 

Headphone processing – Used to turn on/off the headphones for monitoring. This can be left on while monitoring over speakers but will increase CPU load. 

NOTE: It is advisable to turn off unused processing, especially while mastering. 

Headphone only mode overrides speaker and headphone processing modes and will not use the routing enabled with normal headphone processing. 

Render mode – Stereo uses the stereo downmix mode selected in the Trim and Downmix Controls window. Binaural employs the binaural Renderer and uses the settings from the Binaural Render Mode window 

Re-renders Tab 

Re-render processing – Turns on/off the real-time re-renders defined in the re-renders window. This should be disabled when not in use, to reduce CPU load. Non-real-time re-renders are still available when re-render processing is disabled. 

Loudness Tab 

Loudness measurement – Used to turn on/off the real-time loudness measurement in the Renderer window. For loudness measurement of input signal, the external sync (chase) should be engaged. Loudness analysis of an open master file is available even if real-time loudness is not utilized. 

Network Information Tab 

Network information – Displays the IP addresses on the workstation available for communication with the Renderer. These are used by the DAW and the Remote Renderer application. 

Navigation 

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