Using iOS Spatial Audio status for Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos track and logo selection

Aug 3, 2023
Knowledge

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Using-iOS-Spatial-Audio-status-for-Dolby-Atmos-track-and-logo-selection

Created By

MCW, 8/3/2023 12:16 AM

Last Modified By

DFrehner, 8/3/2023 4:12 PM

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Validated

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Published

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Article Content

iOS apps that use the built-in Spatial Audio capabilities of iOS 15 typically use high-level iOS frameworks such as AVPlayer in combination with HLS delivery to achieve Dolby Atmos playback.

While most functionality is handled automatically by AVPlayer, the app can use isSpatialAudioEnabled of AVAudioSession.currentRoute to determine that the current audio output portType supports Spatial Audio. (Note that on iOS this is currently limited to on-device speakers and Spatial Audio-capable headphones such as Air Pods Pro connected via Bluetooth.)

The app can use this information to control:

Display of the Dolby Audio or Dolby Atmos logo
Selection of Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, or stereo tracks (if not using HLS for delivery)

Examples

isSpatialAudioEnabled value	Track selection	Dolby logo shown during playback
True	DD+ JOC (Dolby Atmos)	Dolby Atmos
True	DD+ 5.1 (Dolby Audio)	Dolby Audio
False	AC-4 (Dolby Atmos)*	Dolby Atmos
False	AC-4 (Dolby Audio)*	Dolby Audio
False	AAC (stereo)	None

* Support for the AC-4 format requires in-app decoding using the Dolby Audio for Applications product.