It’s very uncommon for me to show down the provide to go to a recording studio, so when Dolby requested if I’d prefer to see the place music is blended into Atmos, I couldn’t say sure rapidly sufficient. So I headed over to Eastcote Studios to take a seat down and listen to what they’ve been doing with Dolby to revolutionise the sound of music. Eastcote is one among a choose group of Atmos succesful mixing areas and Dyre Gormsen is a Grammy nominated sound engineer who sat me down to listen to what spatial audio ought to sound like.
The monitor I listened to was “yellow face” by Henjila and what made this expertise distinctive was that she popped by later in particular person to sing it reside. It’s fairly uncommon that you just get the prospect to listen to one thing in encompass sound, then later hear it once more in the identical room because the artist. Nevertheless it was a really fascinating comparability to make. Gormsen advised me that the combo is derived from the stereo grasp, however will find yourself sounding very completely different. It’s a very new work, and for that motive artists have to log off on it.
Within the Atmos model the vocal seems on the “centre” channel. Atmos considerably dispenses with the concept of channels, however that is the place dialogue comes from in films. This was, for me, essentially the most vital a part of the expertise. Separating the vocals out, and placing them in entrance of you is outstanding. You hear Henjila singing about her experiences as if she’s standing in entrance of you. Instrumentation then fills the room, due to Atmos’ spatial positioning.
(Picture credit score: Ian Morris)
With Apple Music there’s a rising collection of Atmos mixes, and it’s making me very eager to listen to a few of it on a correct encompass sound system. Whereas I actually just like the spatial audio expertise by headphones, it actually doesn’t blow me away prefer it did by a correct encompass sound system.
After all you is perhaps pondering {that a} studio setup with wonderful amps and audio system, costing tens of hundreds to construct, isn’t a good take a look at. I agree, so when the fellows in Eastcote Studios then let me hear the playback on a Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar I used to be simply as blown away. The truth is, I’d say that the copy was staggering. The Ambeo isn’t low-cost both, it’s greater than £2,000 (AU$3,999), however I think that you can discover a value level that fits you and get a very good expertise.
Once I bought house I fired up Henjila’s monitor by myself stereo. I’ve a pair of pleasant Dali bookshelf audio system and a Cambridge Audio Evo 75 I’m testing. The sound was wonderful, however missing that centre channel and the liberty on the devices that the Atmos combine introduced left me feeling a bit bereft.
(Picture credit score: Ian Morris)
So what are my conclusions right here? Firstly, as I’ve at all times stated, Atmos when achieved proper is a outstanding know-how. It’s onerous to get it proper at house, and I’m interested by this rather a lot in the meanwhile as a result of I really need the complete encompass expertise for my lounge. Secondly, headphones are good however I feel audio system nonetheless have the sting for spatial audio. I’m excited for what comes sooner or later and I wish to hear extra Apple Music through a encompass sound system.
Lastly, I’m completely satisfied that music must be delivered in Dolby Atmos. After all, the needs of the artist are vital and this received’t be for all. However when there’s a willingness, the intimacy of the supply and the scope to essentially pick devices individually has monumental potential.
Dolby retains doing this to me. I’m going alongside and watch a movie, or hearken to some music, and the subsequent second I’m on the web interested by blowing by subsequent month’s mortgage cost on new gear to expertise it. Curse you Dolby, curse you and your mind-blowing audio.
