What are the best practices for mixing and mastering in Dolby Atmos for headphones?

3 Set up your session

Before you start mixing and mastering, you need to set up your session correctly. First, you need to create a Dolby Atmos master track in your DAW, which will be the output of your mix. Then, you need to create audio tracks or buses for each sound object that you want to place in the Dolby Atmos space. You can have up to 128 sound objects in a Dolby Atmos mix. Next, you need to route each audio track or bus to the Dolby Atmos master track, using the Dolby Atmos panner plug-in. This plug-in allows you to adjust the position, elevation, size, and spread of each sound object. Finally, you need to set the monitoring mode to Dolby Atmos for headphones in the Dolby Atmos renderer.

4 Mix with balance and clarity

When you mix in Dolby Atmos for headphones, you need to pay attention to the balance and clarity of your sound elements. Since you have more freedom to place and move sounds in the Dolby Atmos space, you also have more potential for creating clutter and confusion. To avoid this, you need to use the Dolby Atmos panner wisely and sparingly. Don't overuse the elevation and movement effects, as they can distract and fatigue the listener. Instead, focus on creating a natural and realistic soundstage, using the horizontal and depth dimensions. Also, use EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects to create contrast and separation between sounds. Avoid masking and overlapping sounds that have similar frequencies or dynamics.

5 Master with consistency and quality

After you finish mixing, you need to master your audio in Dolby Atmos for headphones. Mastering is the final step of polishing and enhancing your sound design, as well as ensuring its consistency and quality across different platforms and devices. To master in Dolby Atmos for headphones, you need to use a limiter plug-in on the Dolby Atmos master track, to control the overall loudness and peaks of your audio. You also need to use a metering plug-in, such as the Dolby Atmos meter or the LUFS meter, to measure the loudness and dynamics of your audio. You should aim for a loudness level of -18 LUFS and a dynamic range of 10 LU. Finally, you need to export your audio as a Dolby Atmos file, using the Dolby Atmos renderer.

6 Test and review your audio

The last step of mixing and mastering in Dolby Atmos for headphones is to test and review your audio. You need to listen to your audio on different headphones and devices, to check how it sounds and performs in various scenarios. You also need to compare your audio with other reference tracks that are mixed and mastered in Dolby Atmos for headphones, to evaluate your quality and style. You should also ask for feedback from other sound designers or listeners, to get different perspectives and opinions. You should always be open to making adjustments and improvements, until you are satisfied with your final product.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?