Exercise Objectives
This exercise is designed to reinforce concepts covered in Modules 7, 8, and 9. This exercise will be an introduction to the functionality of the Dolby Atmos Music Panner and to the use of Object Control Mode in Record.
For the purposes of this exercise, 10 audio files have been provided along with a reference Pro Tools Session. The result does not need to exactly match the reference session.
Download the Exercise Content 6.zip file to the Pro Tools workstation and unzip on the media drive. Locate the Audio Files folder.
Dolby Atmos Renderer
- Launch the Renderer. Set as per Exercise 4.
- Close any open master file by navigating to File > Close Master File.
- Open the Input Configuration Window from the menu bar Window > Input Configuration or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows).
- Set to Use Default.
Pro Tools
- Launch Pro Tools if closed.
- Establish Connection with the Renderer in Setup > Peripherals > Dolby Atmos.
- Use localhost for an internal Renderer.
- Use hostname or IP address if an external Renderer is being used.
- Verify the connection status is solid green.
- Establish synchronization in Setup > Peripherals > Synchronization.
- Enable Gen LTC if using a SYNC HD.
- Set or verify the correct Playback Engine is use in Setup > Playback Engine.
- Dolby Audio Bridge for running the Renderer internally.
- HDX for using an external Renderer.
- Create a new session, saving and closing any already open session.
- Name the session Exercise 8.
- Uncheck Create from Template if checked
- In the I/O Settings drop-down menu select Dolby Atmos Renderer Dolby Audio Bridge Stereo
- Set the File Type to BWF (.WAV)
- Set the Sample Rate to 48kHz
- Set the Bit Depth to 24-Bit
- Click Create
- Configure Session>Setup or press Cmd+2
- Set the timecode rate to 24
- Set the session start to 00:00:00:00
- Import the supplied wav files in the Ex6 Atmos Music Panner > Audio Files folder to new tracks.
- Set the Main Counter Selector to Bars|Beats
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- Reorder the tracks as pictured below and assign to corresponding outputs.
- Note – You are not using the Object view for this part of the exercise. Assign the Outputs exactly as pictured below. The Object View will be used later.
- Create the LTC Gen track, insert the Generator plug-in, and assign to Output 129.
- Insert the Dolby Atmos Music Panner on all tracks except the Stereo Bed.
- The mono tracks use the mono Dolby Atmos Music Panner and the stereo tracks the stereo version.
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- Set the tempo to 126bpm.
- Set the tempo to 126bpm.
Dolby Atmos Renderer
Open the Input Configuration, set the Bed width to stereo, and use the Input Descriptions to match the track and audio file names (as discussed in previous modules).
Pro Tools
The Dolby Atmos Music Panner will be used with Static pans on some tracks, with automated pans on one track, and with the sequencer enabled on others.
Kick 1, Kick 2, and Snare tracks are static pans made using the Dolby Atmos Music Panner.
Assign the Objects in the Dolby Atmos Music Panner as pictured below.
The Snare Delay Return track has the sequencer enabled, performing a single-step pan with a box path, following a wedge elevation mode, using a step duration of 8.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object to 14.
- Enable the sequencer. Step 1 will highlight.
- Click edit.
- Select the box drawing tool and drag from the front left to rear right.
- Set the Elevation Mode to Wedge.
- Set the Step Duration to 8.
- Click Done.
The Toms track in the provided Pro Tools Reference session is set to write metadata to Object 15. It uses the Dolby Atmos Music Panner puck automation for a simple triangle move from right, to center, to left of the listener with each phrase. This can be panned manually or in the automation lanes.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object to 15
- Explore panning with your system and use the provided ProTools Reference session if needed.
The Perc Pad in the provided Pro Tools Reference session has the sequencer enabled, performing a single-step pan utilizing a rectangular path at the front of the room that “round trips” with a linear elevation of Z:35, using a step duration of 8, and copy linking.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object pair to 17/18.
- Enable the sequencer. Step 1 will highlight.
- Click edit.
- Select the box drawing tool and drag from the front left to right about a quarter way back in the room.
- Enable the path round trip mode.
- Set the Z axis to 35.
- Set the Step Duration to 8.
- Set Linking to Copy.
- Click Done.
The Pad track in the provided Pro Tools Reference session has the sequencer enabled, performing a single-step pan with a circle path at the front of the room that auto reverses, with a linear elevation of Z:100, using a step duration of 16, and Mirror X linking.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object pair to 19/20.
- Enable the sequencer. Step 1 will highlight.
- Click edit.
- Select the circle drawing tool and drag from the front left to rear right.
- Enable the path reverse mode.
- Set the Z axis to 100.
- Set the Step Duration to 16.
- Set Linking to Mirror X.
- Click Done.
The Chords 1 track in the provided Pro Tools Reference session has the sequencer enabled, performing a four-step pan with line paths (drawn left front to left back, left back to left front, left front to right front, right front to left front), following the dome elevation mode, with a linear elevation of Z:100, a step duration of 16, and Copy linking.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object pair to 21/22.
- Enable the sequencer. Step 1 will highlight.
- Click edit.
- Select the line drawing tool and drag front left to rear left.
- Draw the other moves and the sequence step will advance with each drawn move.
- Set the Step Duration to 4.
- Set the Elevation mode to dome.
- Set Linking to Copy.
- Click Done.
The Chords 2 track in the provided Pro Tools Reference session has the sequencer enabled, performing a single-step pan with a line path (drawn left back to left front), following the front curve elevation mode, with a linear elevation of Z:100, using a step duration of 8 and Mirror X linking.
In the Dolby Atmos Music Panner:
- Set the Object pair to 23/24.
- Enable the sequencer. Step 1 will highlight.
- Click edit.
- Select the line drawing tool and drag rear left to front left.
- Set the Step Duration to 8.
- Set the Elevation mode to front curve.
- Set Linking to Mirror X.
- Click Done.
In order to create a Dolby Atmos master file, the session cannot start at a timecode of 00:00:00:00. Moving the audio in the Pro Tools session to a timecode value like 01:00:00:00 will change the bar, and thus potentially change the sequencer timing in an undesirable way. Additionally, the Dolby Atmos Music Panner does not write X, Y, Z plug-in automation when generated by the sequencer.
To adapt to this workflow, save a copy of the Pro Tools session (Save As) and record the Dolby Atmos Music Panner as native panner automation. Once this is done, the Dolby Atmos Music Panner can be removed from the session, the audio can be spotted to 01:00:00:00, and a Dolby Atmos master file can be created.
Note that the when the elevation mode in the Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in is linear (represented by a dash – and not set to one of the other modes such as wedge, dome, or front curve), the z-axis value will not be written as automation unless the z-axis control is modified during the automation write pass. This issue can alternatively be addressed by setting the static z-axis value in the native panner after the Music Panner has been removed.
Pro Tools
Save a session copy as Exercise 8b.
In the edit window, set the outputs for all Object tracks to No Outputs.
In the I/O Setup Bus page, expand the stereo Object busses and sequentially map to Renderer inputs 11 to 24.
In the edit window, reveal the Object Column view.
Assign the Object tracks to 11 through 24 (16 is not used).
Set the Bus Mode to Object.
Set the Object Control Mode to Record for all of the Objects.
Open the Automation window and enable only Pan automation, so as to not overwrite any existing volume and plug-in automation.
Set the Object tracks to Write mode. 
Choose Setup > Peripherals > Atmos and uncheck Link Object and Audio Recording.
Play from the beginning of the session to write native panning automation.
Set the Object tracks to Read mode.
Set the Object Control Mode to Master on all Object tracks.
Remove the Dolby Atmos Music Panner from all Object tracks in the session. 
Select all audio and spot to 01:00:00:00.
If using the Renderer internally with the Dolby Audio Bridge, ensure there is a properly set-up LTC Generator track.
Set the counter to timecode and select an audio file in the session to note the start and end of audio. 
Save the session.
Dolby Atmos Renderer
- Create a New Master File
- From the menu bar, choose File > New Master File or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+N (Mac) or Ctrll+N (Windows).
- Click Choose Directory.
- Make a new folder named Dolby_Atmos_Music_Panner_Ex_8 and click Open.
- Enter the Master File Name: Dolby_Atmos_Music_Panner_Ex_8.
- Under Optional Settings:
- Toggle Add FFOA and enter 01:00:00:00.
- Click Create.
- Toggle the Record In/Out switch and enter:
- In – 01:00:00:00
- Out – 01:00:55:04
- Click the Record button to Arm the renderer (it will blink).
- Start the Transport in Pro Tools, and stop on completion of the recorded master.
- QC the master file.
Navigation
Next: Ableton Live Exercise 3 – Creating a Dolby Atmos Mix
Previous: ProTools Exercise 5 – Using VCAs to Mix to a Target Loudness Level and Re-renders