Content Creation

Dolby Atmos content sources

Dolby Atmos content is available from various sources encoded in different file formats. Additionally, it is also possible to play back Dolby Atmos content from partnering streaming service providers or to generate your own Dolby Atmos content.

Available file formats:

• PCM files with Dolby Atmos content prerendered for 5.1, 7.1, 5.1.4, and 7.1.4 speaker layouts.
• Dolby Digital Plus bitstreams with Dolby Atmos content
  Available as .ec3 and .mp4 files, that have been encoded using joint object coding.
• Dolby AC-4 bitstreams with Dolby Atmos content
  Available as .ac4 and .mp4 files, that have been encoded using advanced joint object coding or joint object coding depending on the type of Dolby Atmos content.

Playback of 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos content from streaming service providers

Several streaming service providers already host Dolby Atmos content. It is possible to play this content using a MacBook with macOS version 12.4 or later that has a physical audio interface with a minimum output of 12 channels. With the appropriate system configuration, the content will be decoded and rendered to a 7.1.4 output channel configuration. The 7.1.4 output channel configuration should be used only for cars that have a respective speaker layout and not for tuning car cabins with lower speaker counts. 

Note: macOS is also capable of rendering Dolby Atmos content to a 5.1.2 output channel configuration. However, this configuration should not be used for cabin tuning as the rendering to this configuration does not consider any car-specific processing.
There may be situations in which a physical audio interface with more than 16 output channels does not correctly play back Dolby Atmos and only renders the output to six audio channels. To solve this issue, a virtual interface (for example, a loopback software) can be used. The virtual interface should be configured for 7.1.4-channel output and the channels should be routed to the physical interface.

macOS configuration for Dolby Atmos playback

To play Dolby Atmos content on a MacBook, you can use a physical multichannel audio interface. To configure the audio interface:

1. Ensure that an audio interface with at least 12 output channels is available in the system.
2. In the macOS Audio Devices settings, select the audio interface:

• Ensure that the audio interface is set as the default playback device.
• Ensure that the sample rate of the audio interface is set to 48 kHz.
• Click Configure Speakers....
• Select 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Surround as the configuration.

Creating your own content

To create new Dolby Atmos content, use the Dolby Atmos Production Suite. See https://customer.dolby.com/content-creation-and-delivery for details.