Topics covered in this article:
- Licensed components that add Dolby Atmos capabilities to 3rd party products
- DAWs products with licensed Dolby Atmos capabilities
- NLEs/IMF mastering products with Dolby Atmos capabilities
Introduction
Dolby licenses 3rd party products for integration into Dolby Atmos content creation and mastering workflows.
These capabilities are delivered in the form of licensed software development kits (SDKs) which are implemented in both DAWs products for content creation and by NLEs (Non Linear Editors)/IMF mastering product for QC and for delivery of IMF packages with both Video and Atmos audio.
There are some capabilities in the Dolby Atmos Renderer as the Dolby Atmos Mastering or Production that are not available in the SDKs but these are evolving over time. Likewise various manufactures can selectively add capabilities enabled by these kits as they deem necessary.
It is important for users to stay informed about the capabilities of various platforms and products as additional capabilities may be added. Please consult the manufacturers website or documentation.
Licensed Components
There are individual components that add capabilities to 3rd party product:
- The communication library adds the ability for the DAW to communicate with the Dolby Atmos Renderer. This is used to send panning/size metadata to the Renderer from native immersive panning. This is also utilized to enable the DAW UI or plug-ins to control input configuration, binaural render modes, downmix and trim metadata. Some applications can display binaural render modes and downmix and trim metadata but cannot author it.
- The ability to import some or all Dolby Atmos Master file formats and export ADM BWF.wa, IAB.mxf or both. For DAWs this is usually restricted to ADM BWF.wav to both recreate a session/project and to master/remaster. For NLEs/IMF mastering applications this can include import of .atmos and IAB.mxf and export of ADM BWF.wav and IAB.mxf.
- The ability to Render directly to speakers with a 7.1.4, 7.1, 5.1 or Stereo speaker layouts. This opens the door to workflows without using the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
Different products will have some, or, all, of these capabilities as needed.
DAWs with Licensed Dolby Atmos Capabilities
At the time of writing DAWs that have implemented the communication library include:
- Avid Pro Tools
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Black Magic Designs Resolve Studio (for use with the Fairlight DAW)
- Merging Technologies Pyramix Premium
At the time of writing DAWs that have implemented import/export capability of ADM BWF include:
- Avid Pro Tools
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Black Magic Designs Resolve Studio (for use with the Fairlight DAW)
At the time of writing DAWs that have implemented direct Renderer to loudspeakers with 7.1.4, 7.1, 5.1, Stereo speaker layouts include:
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Black Magic Designs Resolve Studio (for use with the Fairlight DAW)
Note that DAWs without the licensed communications library can still be used in Dolby Atmos workflows utilizing the Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in that sends panning metadata to the Dolby Atmos Renderer directly.