All you need to know about Dolby Atmos technology
Dolby Atmos technology gives high resolution to the sounds of the devices that have this technology. It is like watching something in 3D but using your ears instead of your eyes, this technical feature is really intriguing. What is it? How does it work? And many other questions that we will answer in this article.
Dolby Atmos is an audio format designed to enable content creators, such as musicians and filmmakers, to put certain sounds accurately in the background sound so that a 360 degree sound is achieved in cinemas and brought to your room or even to your mobile. It can range from a big bang to a bee, so it sounds more realistic, deceiving the brain to make it imagine it is in the scene altogether.
How does Dolby Atmos work?
In order to achieve this real sound, this technology is based on 9.1 channels that are different from 7.1 (7 speakers and one subwoofer) with two additional speakers for sounds above, 128 tracks and 118 synchronized audio units, and the audio unit here may be anything like footsteps or knocking on the table. The technology will allow sound content designers to choose a specific place in the space for these sounds. Once this format is complete, this technology will transfer the quality of the cinema sound to your home if you have a device that is compatible with this technology like a headset or home theater system With video/audio receivers Sound analysis devices Depending on the number of speakers you have, you will have the perfect operation. If a plane passes above you in the film, the sound will be from the above and the sound quality, depth, and accuracy will be proportional to the number of speakers you have.
But if you can’t make these two openings in the ceiling available, there is another solution for you, where the two additional speakers are placed on top of the front speakers and they’re slightly directed upwards so that the sound comes out and reflect on the ceiling to give the illusion that the sound is coming from the above, this method is not the best, but it’s still a good solution anyway, and the following picture illustrates the difference between this method and the previous method.
What content is supported by Dolby Atmos?
Disney’s Brave is the first movie to be supported by this Dolby Atmos, followed by many of the most popular movies: Deadpool, The Secret Life of Pets and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. You just need to make sure you are buying 4k Blu-ray copies.
In addition, Netflix and Vudu offer some of the content supported by this technology. Netflix currently offers five shows (Okja, Blame !, Death Note, Bright, and Wheelman), while Vudu support over 100 movies including (Creed, Central Intelligence, The Lego Movie, It, Blade Runner 2049).
For game fans, you can try this list of games Overwatch, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Crackdown 3, Super Lucky’s Tale, Final Fantasy XV, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield 1, Gears of War 4, Mass Effect: Andromeda.
How much do Dolby Atmos need?
For now, Atmos is more of a luxury than a need. If you own a 4K TV, you have to think about getting it. Otherwise, it’s better to wait until it’s more mainstream and affordable.
But if you liked the idea of being in the middle of the movie, do not hesitate to get it because it will give you a unique experience. And you don’t have to worry that there are not a lot of products that support it, because the technology is still new, and it’s getting more and more popular that many manufacturers have begun to take into consideration in their current and upcoming products, therefore getting it now is just a quick step towards the future.
Read also: Bose Soundsport Free Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review
