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Apple lossless official announcement

voodooless

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I think some of you are quite close to the truth. I downloaded one of the Atmos files with Music, and checked out the files. It contains .data file with some interesting content:

Code: 
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-alac-stereo-48000-24",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced",SAMPLE-RATE=48000,BIT-DEPTH=24
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-atmos-2448",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="16/JOC",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-atmos-2768",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="16/JOC",NAME="songEnhanced"

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=259489,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=259489,BANDWIDTH=271395,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="6bea21024b2c5ef023a011b8c89327ca4a179734930d4d46ccee4f6a93ee5985",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=259482,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=259482,BANDWIDTH=271385,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="9a64d1cb7c6038da3b411cf301ffc62a745f37309bfb5e89654549879c9f84ed",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=256235,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=256235,BANDWIDTH=274153,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="9927f02da9bea411e7ab5300af73239b496722644f6d118c1ae7f6e429821738",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=72117,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=72117,BANDWIDTH=78896,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="0bc4ff85790e67e8667a94c8a500ba368005e4522fb93222ebcb62cad7f39a0c",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=72121,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=72121,BANDWIDTH=78893,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="52b5caa6e7cee827e21a6867dc9e4d51579b079bf6b7e78aa41edb806b4ade48",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=69460,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=69460,BANDWIDTH=78148,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="85e37d804fa722593362b08e1122210a3d5e98a34d9e794f8622f4bb934b19ba",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=132214,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=132214,BANDWIDTH=136994,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="6afa87a7009e98cd0fe369e929266222586a08b7b0f6480784299832ced51aad",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=132214,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=132214,BANDWIDTH=136995,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="16742cb6f863702075c3d5d9795162c2c013b8f6375eb1cf02c10ad08e413723",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=128067,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=128067,BANDWIDTH=137419,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="194f6b2d6e4ea9a5a1150adcf138797ab0e49a3fe54c4e7939e8a1dfee52a471",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=1596147,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=1596147,BANDWIDTH=1689895,CODECS="alac",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="aa55a5776885b1a10448a61394b2ef2d5c01e42f882f749ac9bc63a6a8727dbc",AUDIO="audio-alac-stereo-48000-24"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2304.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=450245,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=450245,BANDWIDTH=450234,CODECS="ec-3",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="4e221db58ae8c570a6588c128dad3b1f822b0501338497580e9e0a5032854926",AUDIO="audio-atmos-2448"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2448.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=770243,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=770243,BANDWIDTH=770218,CODECS="ec-3",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="11fa62ecc94d154f1579a62153d637ced5c62cb947cc82af4322739bfaef52e9",AUDIO="audio-atmos-2768"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2768.m3u8

So it looks like there are all kinds of various versions available, including a binaural, downmix, alac as well as the actual Atmos tracks, in this case showing 16 channels.

The version that got downloaded looks to be the audio-atmos-2768 as well as the audio-stereo-256 version.
 
mononoaware

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abdo123 said:
which will decode Atmos to the best possible experience your setup allows.
Click to expand...

So if you have 2 speakers (with AirPods headphones as Apple marketed it) then the result is some over-processed virtual surround signal which depends on the psychological tricks on how we perceive sound?
 
voodooless

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mononoaware said:
So if you have 2 speakers (with AirPods headphones as Apple marketed it) then the result is some over-processed virtual surround signal which depends on the psychological tricks on how we perceive sound?
Click to expand...

Define over-processed? Remember, the source is not a stereo track, but a multi-track signal positioned in 3D space, and positions are not static either. You must process this somehow to get to a stereo or headphone mix (or any other number of channels for that matter. And yes, you can make use of binaural principles to create the headphone mix. You don't have to like it...
 
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mononoaware said:
So if you have 2 speakers (with AirPods headphones as Apple marketed it) then the result is some over-processed virtual surround signal which depends on the psychological tricks on how we perceive sound?
Click to expand...

it's more like 128 channels downmixed to stereo, in a consistently reproducible way.

everyone gets that 128 channels track, and everyone (with dolby atoms devices) have a decoder that will downmix it to their particular channel setup.
 
mononoaware

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voodooless said:
but a multi-track signal positioned in 3D space,
Click to expand...

Then how is it able to be applied to all Apple Music content?

Edit: I must have missed this “Supported songs will play in Dolby Atmos automatically when you're listening using AirPods, Beats. . .”

So I guess it is going to be some “exclusive” Dolby experience with sponsored modern artists such as Billie Eilish releasing an entire multi-channel recorded album etc. . .
 
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mononoaware said:
So I guess it is going to be some “exclusive” Dolby experience with sponsored modern artists such as Billie Eilish releasing an entire multi-channel recorded album etc. . .
Click to expand...

Producers say that mastering for Dolby Atmos is even easier than the typical workflow for stereo, so pretty much all major record labels will adopt it if there is support in major streaming platforms.
 
mononoaware

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abdo123 said:
it's more like 128 channels downmixed to stereo, in a consistently reproducible way.

everyone gets that 128 channels track, and everyone (with dolby atoms devices) have a decoder that will downmix it to their particular channel setup.
Click to expand...

Well it all sounds quite advanced, but how will the end result turn out on certain devices/certain experiences?

Also just discovered it’s only on “supported” songs, so it’s success relies on people using it I guess. . .
 
mononoaware

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abdo123 said:
Producers say that mastering for Dolby Atmos is even easier than the typical workflow for stereo, so pretty much all major record labels will adopt it if there is support in major streaming platforms.
Click to expand...

I don’t know much about that. But what I can say is it seems too enthusiastic.
Maybe I am old fashioned, but I prefer stereo over surround for music.
Stereo for speakers & stereo for headphones (I have tried over-processed “surround” sound through headphones and it wasn’t convincing).
Are they really depending on people adopting to a full-Atmos setup just to consume music content (I mean this is end goal for producers isn’t it to take over stereo)?

Here is my prediction, Dolby Atmos branded music draws interest, a few will try it (most likely AirPods demographic etc), the experience will wear off (everyone likes to think shiny new stuff is better than it actually is), less and less people will be choosing “Dolby Atmos” option.
Stereo lives on. . .
 
Last edited:
DavidMcRoy

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voodooless said:
I think some of you are quite close to the truth. I downloaded one of the Atmos files with Music, and checked out the files. It contains .data file with some interesting content:

Code: 
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-256-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-HE-stereo-64-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128-binaural",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/BINAURAL",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-stereo-128-downmix",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2/-/DOWNMIX",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-alac-stereo-48000-24",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="2",NAME="songEnhanced",SAMPLE-RATE=48000,BIT-DEPTH=24
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-atmos-2448",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="16/JOC",NAME="songEnhanced"
#EXT-X-MEDIA:TYPE=AUDIO,GROUP-ID="audio-atmos-2768",AUTOSELECT=YES,CHANNELS="16/JOC",NAME="songEnhanced"

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=259489,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=259489,BANDWIDTH=271395,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="6bea21024b2c5ef023a011b8c89327ca4a179734930d4d46ccee4f6a93ee5985",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=259482,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=259482,BANDWIDTH=271385,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="9a64d1cb7c6038da3b411cf301ffc62a745f37309bfb5e89654549879c9f84ed",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=256235,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=256235,BANDWIDTH=274153,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="9927f02da9bea411e7ab5300af73239b496722644f6d118c1ae7f6e429821738",AUDIO="audio-stereo-256-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr256_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=72117,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=72117,BANDWIDTH=78896,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="0bc4ff85790e67e8667a94c8a500ba368005e4522fb93222ebcb62cad7f39a0c",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=72121,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=72121,BANDWIDTH=78893,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="52b5caa6e7cee827e21a6867dc9e4d51579b079bf6b7e78aa41edb806b4ade48",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=69460,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=69460,BANDWIDTH=78148,CODECS="mp4a.40.5",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="85e37d804fa722593362b08e1122210a3d5e98a34d9e794f8622f4bb934b19ba",AUDIO="audio-HE-stereo-64-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr64_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=132214,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=132214,BANDWIDTH=136994,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="6afa87a7009e98cd0fe369e929266222586a08b7b0f6480784299832ced51aad",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=132214,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=132214,BANDWIDTH=136995,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="16742cb6f863702075c3d5d9795162c2c013b8f6375eb1cf02c10ad08e413723",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128-binaural"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128_bm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=128067,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=128067,BANDWIDTH=137419,CODECS="mp4a.40.2",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="194f6b2d6e4ea9a5a1150adcf138797ab0e49a3fe54c4e7939e8a1dfee52a471",AUDIO="audio-stereo-128-downmix"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr128_dm.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=1596147,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=1596147,BANDWIDTH=1689895,CODECS="alac",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="aa55a5776885b1a10448a61394b2ef2d5c01e42f882f749ac9bc63a6a8727dbc",AUDIO="audio-alac-stereo-48000-24"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2304.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=450245,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=450245,BANDWIDTH=450234,CODECS="ec-3",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="4e221db58ae8c570a6588c128dad3b1f822b0501338497580e9e0a5032854926",AUDIO="audio-atmos-2448"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2448.m3u8
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:AVERAGE-BANDWIDTH=770243,_AVG-BANDWIDTH=770243,BANDWIDTH=770218,CODECS="ec-3",STABLE-VARIANT-ID="11fa62ecc94d154f1579a62153d637ced5c62cb947cc82af4322739bfaef52e9",AUDIO="audio-atmos-2768"
P287454153_A1570942456_audio_en_gr2768.m3u8

So it looks like there are all kinds of various versions available, including a binaural, downmix, alac as well as the actual Atmos tracks, in this case showing 16 channels.

The version that got downloaded looks to be the audio-atmos-2768 as well as the audio-stereo-256 version.
Click to expand...

What you’ve uncovered comports with my understanding of what’s going on with Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos: it’s a big package consisting of a genuine, original Dolby Atmos mix or remix suitable for multichannel immersive speaker array playback via HDMI from an Apple TV4K set top box, accompanied by other mixes: one suitable for headphone listening, and yet another mix for listening on the built-in speakers in an iOS device. Mix Engineer John Hanes stated as much in a thread on the subject at the professional audio site GearSpace, Apparently there’s a conventional 2-channel stereo ALAC stream in there, too? Speculating here, maybe there’s a mix just for devices like Dolby Atmos sound bars and the Apple HomePod with their steerable directivity features? Anyway, when your equipment encounters all this, it sorts out what to use and how to use it based on its capabilities.
 
A

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mononoaware said:
I don’t know much about that. But what I can say is it seems too enthusiastic.
Maybe I am old fashioned, but I prefer stereo over surround for music (stereo for speakers & stereo for headphones (I have tried over-processed “surround” sound through headphones and it wasn’t convincing).
Are they really depending on people adopting to a full-Atmos setup just to consume music content (I mean this is end goal for producers isn’t it to take over stereo)?

Here is my prediction, Dolby Atmos content draws interest, a few will try it, the experience will wear off (everyone likes to think shiny new stuff is better than it actually is), less and less people will be choosing “Dolby Atmos” option.
Stereo lives on. . .
Click to expand...

I think what you're missing is that Dolby Atmos is not 'surround', it's mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, X.X.X setups ALL AT ONCE.
 
voodooless

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DavidMcRoy said:
Anyway, when your equipment encounters all this, it sorts out what to use and how to use it based on its capabilities.
Click to expand...

And the consumer has no idea what it's is getting... if I see the Atmos logo on the screen, what does that mean? Is it a real local render, a downmixed version, a binaural version? The only way to really be sure currently is through Apple TV 4K and an AV receiver.
 
mononoaware

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abdo123 said:
I think what you're missing is that Dolby Atmos is not 'surround', it's mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, X.X.X setups ALL AT ONCE.
Click to expand...

Really? I thought Atmos was conventional surround + height (ceiling/upfiring speakers).

From first page of “Dolby Atmos” wiki: “Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.[1] Following the release of Atmos for the cinema market, a variety of consumer technologies have been released under the Atmos brand, using in-ceiling and up-firing speakers.”

Doesn’t sound like a total universal package to me. . .
 
A

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mononoaware said:
Really? I thought Atmos was conventional surround + height (ceiling/upfiring speakers).

From first page “Dolby Atmos” of wiki: “Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.[1] Following the release of Atmos for the cinema market, a variety of consumer technologies have been released under the Atmos brand, using in-ceiling and up-firing speakers.”

Doesn’t sound like a total universal package to me. . .
Click to expand...

Well yes you kinda have to read in between the lines, but basically with Dolby Atmos you can optimize your song for mono boomboxes, proper stereo setups, proper surround setups, headphones .etc all SIMULTANEOUSLY.
 
mononoaware

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mononoaware said:
Really? I thought Atmos was conventional surround + height (ceiling/upfiring speakers).

From first page of “Dolby Atmos” wiki: “Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.[1] Following the release of Atmos for the cinema market, a variety of consumer technologies have been released under the Atmos brand, using in-ceiling and up-firing speakers.”

Doesn’t sound like a total universal package to me. . .
Click to expand...

Let’s just agree with this: Dolby Atmos on headphones, smartphones and computers is simulated binaural mix.
 
mononoaware

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abdo123 said:
Well yes you kinda have to read in between the lines, but basically with Dolby Atmos you can optimize your song for mono boomboxes, proper stereo setups, proper surround setups, headphones .etc all SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Click to expand...

I get it, it does sound quite exciting.
But who knows maybe just playing the original stereo PCM minus all the binaural processing sounds better on every non-surround device.
 
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mononoaware said:
Really? I thought Atmos was conventional surround + height (ceiling/upfiring speakers).
Click to expand...

No, not another one :facepalm:;)

From first page of “Dolby Atmos” wiki: “Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.[1] Following the release of Atmos for the cinema market, a variety of consumer technologies have been released under the Atmos brand, using in-ceiling and up-firing speakers.”

Doesn’t sound like a total universal package to me. . .
Click to expand...

They should really edit this introduction, as apparently it is really misleading people into thinking it's just another surround effect technology. Later in the text they are more clear:

Dolby Atmos technology allows up to 128 audio tracks plus associated spatial audio description metadata (most notably, location or pan automation data) to be distributed to theaters for optimal, dynamic rendering to loudspeakers based on the theater capabilities
Click to expand...

mononoaware said:
But who knows maybe just playing the original stereo PCM minus all the binaural processing sounds better on every non-surround device.
Click to expand...

But on a normal stereo set, you don't want binaural processing. In any case, normal PCM lossless tracks are still available and are in fact the vast majority. Almost none of the Atmos albums on Apple music interest me the least bit ;)
 
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voodooless said:
No, not another one :facepalm:;)



They should really edit this introduction, as apparently it is really misleading people into thinking it's just another surround effect technology. Later in the text they are more clear:
Click to expand...

I admit I did not read every word. . .

So in a way they future proofed it for more applications. . .

This sentence under what you quoted is important I think also:
“the Dolby Atmos system can also give each loudspeaker its own unique feed based on its exact location”

So the “128 audio tracks plus associated spatial audio description metadata (most notably, location or pan automation data)” is used to give a high resolution binaural mix of virtual surround channels. . .

I admit I do have some more faith in the headphone application than the smartphone/Mac application, but previous experience with headphone surround was. . . Lack lustre.
 
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mononoaware said:
I get it, it does sound quite exciting.
But who knows maybe just playing the original stereo PCM minus all the binaural processing sounds better on every non-surround device.
Click to expand...

The thing that we need to understand that people with proper audio setups are not the target audience anymore for (competitive) music, so for a format to emerge that would ensure everyone would have a piece of the pie is a very very positive thing imo.

I hope it becomes the standard in music production because even proper stereo mixes were little and far this millennia.
 
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voodooless said:
But on a normal stereo set, you don't want binaural processing. In any case, normal PCM lossless tracks are still available and are in fact the vast majority. Almost none of the Atmos albums on Apple music interest me the least bit ;)
Click to expand...

Maybe this dismissive attitude has to do with lack of faith in human beings.
But I really see this “Dolby Atmos” claim by Apple to be a short-lived investment just to add on this extra “feature” to their product line-up so they can market to a bigger audience.
 
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