One of the many presentations on the Avid booth at NAB 2019 was a workshop on learning the tools and techniques for creating immersive audio in Dolby Atmos and Pro Tools MTRX interface.

In this free video tutorial, Avid's Jeff Komar presents the tools and techniques for creating immersive audio in Dolby Atmos using Pro Tools Ultimate and Pro Tools MTRX interface, with option cards and EUCON control.

What Is Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is an immersive experience that utilises up to 64 channels. The speakers completely envelop the audience from behind the screen, on the walls and overhead. Dolby Atmos is designed to enhance the conventional 7.1 format by adding an additional stereo overhead array and up to 118 “sound objects”. These objects can be moved through the theatre in all 3 dimensions. Dolby Atmos Cinema processors take into account the exact specification and dimensions of any playback auditorium so that the effect is the same in each theatre. Watch this video as Dolby explain it much better than we could in words.

As well as a 9.1 channel based system, every speaker can be individually assigned. This is essential, for the second part of the Dolby Atmos system - the objects.  You can have up to 118 objects, that are separate sound elements that, any one of which, you can position around the theatre at will. So a Dolby Atmos mix consists of three primary elements:

• Audio Beds: 9.1 Channel-based premixes or stems (including their multichannel panning)

• Object Audio: 118 soundtrack elements that can be panned anywhere in the 3D space of the theatre by using the x, y and z axes. Dolby Atmos metadata is used to store the panner automation of the objects. The system takes the objects and uses the Dolby Atmos metadata to steer them around the 3D space. On the mixing stage this metadata is processed by the Dolby Rendering and Mastering Unit otherwise known as the RMU. 

More About Dolby Atmos

More About Pro Tools MTRX Interface

Avid Pro Tools MTRX Highlights

• Digital Audio Denmark’s (DAD’s) AD and DA converters are renowned for delivering clean, transparent, and detailed sound. DAD has partnered with Avid to take their AX32 and turn it into the Pro Tools MTRX, meaning that the MTRX picks up that pedigree enabling you to get the best sound quality possible from your Pro Tools HD system up to super-high-resolution 384 kHz DSD. But the MTRX doesn't stop there because it does double duty as both an audio I/O and monitor interface.

• With the MTRX you can take full remote control of all sources, monitors, and speaker sets directly from Pro Tools S6, other EUCON-enabled control surfaces, and the included DADman software. Pro Tools MTRX includes Pro Mon 2, providing complete monitoring, talkback, summing, and fold-down control, whether you’re mixing in mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, or even a 64-channel immersive audio mix.

• Like its DAD cousin the AX32, the Pro Tools MTRX is fully modular, so you can customise it with a variety of I/O and interface options. From analog inputs, outputs, and high-quality mic pres, to Dante, MADI, AES3, 3G-SDI, and more, you have the interface versatility to connect any type of gear and route any signal between the various I/O formats.

• Using DADman software, you can route, split, and patch audio quickly with a matrix capacity of up to 1,500 x 1,500 cross points. You can feed any input to any output, or even send audio to multiple outputs simultaneously, giving you unlimited workflow possibilities. You can remotely control all sources and monitoring directly from Pro Tools Ultimate, Pro Tools EUCON-enabled control surfaces.

For post production, this enables you to record very high quality voiceovers, ADR, and Foley in the studio, as well as capture audio on location, and then monitor your soundtrack mix using very high quality audio converters in the industry.

The MTRX includes sophisticated software that puts complete monitoring, talkback, summing, and fold-down control at your fingertips, whether you’re mixing in stereo, surround, or Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

You can also create multiple monitor profiles, making it easy to switch multichannel audio formats for the project at hand, from stereo and 7.1, up to 64-channel Dolby Atmos.

The MTRX is modular, enabling you to configure all eight of its card slots to connect your gear as you see fit. From analog inputs, outputs, and high-quality mic preamps, to Dante, MADI, AES3, 3G-SDI, and more, you have the connection versatility you need to support ADR, Foley, sound design, re-recording, and mixing workflows, and the flexibility to route any signal between the various I/O formats.

To handle the variety of workflows, gear, formats, and environments post production needs, the MTRX can become audio command centre, from which you can route, split, and patch audio quickly using DADman software, with a matrix capacity of up to 1,500 x 1,500 cross points enabling you to feed any input to any output, or even send audio to multiple outputs simultaneously.

With the MTRX, you can connect your Pro Tools HDX or HD Native system to any Dante network. Not only is Ethernet considered economical, especially where long cable runs are required, it allows for a versatile workflow that uses your facility’s Ethernet infrastructure to route audio between rooms and devices.