Artists often ask us if we can do Dolby Atmos mastering. What they mean is, they have a song that is already mixed in Dolby Atmos format, and this song needs to be prepared for release.
What is mastering Dolby Atmos music
Technically, mastering as we know it for a stereo song, does not apply for a file in Dolby Atmos format, which is an ADM BWF file.
Standart mastering means adding plugins to the master bus, but there is no master bus in a Dolby Atmos renderer, it simply can not exist there, because the resulting audio track in Dolby Atmos consists of more than a hundred separate channels called audio objects. They are not united in one master bus in the master track, they remain individual.
Moreover, for every playback system, from a 2-channel stereo file up to 9.1.4 speaker system a Dolby Atmos renderer makes a different mix, automatically applying the necessary limiting.
Mastering in Dolby Atmos is very much like mixing, during the process the engineer opens the same mixing session that the mixing engineer has created and works in it preparing the song for release.
Why do artists need Dolby Atmos mastering?
If there is no mastering for music in Dolby Atmos, why is it still needed? Yes, Dolby Atmos mastering is popular, but it works as a final perfecting touch to the mix. It happens quite often that musicians who create Dolby Atmos mixes don’t have a 3D speaker setup and use headphones for mixing, or aren’t experienced enough in working with this object-based format. They need to be sure that the mix is done without mistakes, is ready for release, and will sound great. This correction and final touch is what Dolby Atmos mastering is.
What will Dolby Atmos mastering do:
- Ensure that instruments don’t mask each other and sounds don’t clash
- Bring the loudness to the needed level
- Correct the placement of sounds in the bed channels and sound objects
- Check the movement and development of sounds around the listener
- Add effects if needed and ensure the mix sounds at its best and close to the stereo version of the song
As you see, for Dolby Atmos mastering, the engineer will still have to open the whole session in Dolby Atmos Suite and apply plugins like equalizer, compressor, or others to each sound object in the mix separately.
The mastering engineer makes sure the song meets the loudness requirements, which is -18 LUFS for a Dolby Atmos mix. It’s important to follow these requirements because when the song is remixed for a two-channel playback, like a binaural version for headphones, the perceived loudness will increase, and it must stay within the limits.
The engineer will ensure that the core elements of the music are positioned directly in front of the listener, while sound embellishments emanate from various directions. This will create the beauty of an immersive sound. Amateurs often repeat the same mistake placing basic instruments and voices all around the virtual space. They try to make as much as they can from the 3D sound, but doing this inexperienced producers risk losing the balance and the basis of the song. Dolby Atmos mastering will make sure that the song has enough basis in the front and enough elements all around the listener at the same time.
One of the main tasks of the mastering engineer is to check if the song in Dolby Atmos is mixed similar to its stereo version. This is an important condition for streaming, because the audience tends to switch from one playback system to another. And the listeners have to feel they are listening to the same song, when they switch from the stereo to the immersive sound version and back. Don’t forget that your fans have different playback systems at work, at home, in their cars, and everywhere they go, but they need to recognize their favorite song no matter what device they are using for listening to it. The mastering engineer will compare the versions, and will work with the balance, frequencies and other effects to establish the needed similarity between the stereo and Dolby mixes.
Dolby Atmos mastering from Major Mixing studio
We have been working with Dolby Atmos format since Apple started supporting it on iTunes. Here at Major Mixing, we use high-tech equipment, we produce, mix and master amazing 3D sound.
If you have already created an ADM BWF mix for your song, and want to make sure it’s ready for release, you still need Dolby Atmos mastering. Choose Dolby Atmos mixing and mastering service on our website. Especially if the mix was created using headphones or not professionally. This service was created to help you bring your immersive sound to the highest professional level, so you can make sure that your song is perfect and ready to conquer the world!
Send us your mix, and our audio engineer will check it and correct the mistakes within three days. With our Dolby Atmos mastering, you will receive your song sounding as modern and hi-tech as famous artists do.
Every one of us in the Major Mixing team has many years’ experience in the music industry and has taken part in big production projects. We know what trends win in the music world today, we work with all genres and styles. Trusting our engineer with your song, you trust a professional who works with future hits every day. We love creating great music and helping artists take their careers to the next level.
Why Dolby Atmos?
Immersive sound for music is a relatively new and rapidly developing trend, which many famous artists have already picked up. Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and many more celebrities release their songs in Dolby Atmos format on Apple Music.
Their songs appear not only with the left and right channel, they sound from all directions around you, and every listener of Apple Music can experience this. No matter what device they use for playback, the best possible version of immersive 3D sound will be played for them. Even if you are listening through headphones, the binaural version that closely imitates 3D sound will be played.
So, if there is an option to listen to more impressive and captivating modern music, the audience will more and more choose it over old versions. That is why you as an artist may want to use Dolby Atmos technology in developing your career.
If you are new to Dolby Atmos and would like to know more about it, and how artists release songs in this format, then you definitely need to read the Dolby Atmos page on our website.
By the way, if you don’t have a Dolby Atmos version for your song yet, we’ll be happy to create it for you!
Check out our Dolby Atmos mixing and mastering service, and contact us today! We’ll be happy to help you on your way of becoming a celebrity.
