When working with Dolby Atmos, you have two main workflow options: using your DAW's built-in Dolby Atmos integration or purchasing the standalone Dolby Atmos Renderer application.

Taking advantage of Dolby Atmos directly in your DAW is convenient and effective with integrations in Apple Logic Pro, Avid Pro Tools, Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, PreSonus Studio One, Harrison MixBus, Magix Sequoia and Samplitude, Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo, and the plug-in-based solution from Fiedler Audio, Dolby Atmos Composer.

Native DAW integrations have several advantages, including simplified project organization and versioning control, low-latency monitoring, simplified session routing and synchronization, user interface familiarity, and reduced system resource use compared with running the Dolby Atmos Renderer on the same Mac.

However, the Dolby Atmos Renderer application may be required for more advanced workflows.  These include:

• Use of the Dolby Atmos Album Assembler, which uses the Dolby Audio Bridge to playback through the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
• Use of the Dolby Atmos Music Panner plug-in in DAWs including Ableton Live, to send Dolby Atmos panning data to the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
• Export of a Dolby Atmos mix as an MP4 file.
• Dolby offline and real-time loudness measurement
• Large Dolby Atmos mix sessions where it would be beneficial to offload the rendering processing to an external workstation running the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
• Use of multiple stem-based playback rigs each routing audio and metadata to the Dolby Atmos Renderer, as it is commonplace with film mixes.
• Export of the Cinema MXF deliverable for Theatrical Atmos mixes (Dolby Atmos Renderer for Cinema only).
• Use of the Array Mode monitoring configuration for large home entertainment Dolby Atmos mixing environments.

If you are still not sure, then explore the DAW integrations, watch these Dolby Atmos Renderer tutorials, or consider a 90-day trial of the Dolby Atmos Renderer application.