As the music industry embraces the transformative power of immersive mixing, both seasoned audio professionals and newcomers to spatial audio mixing are seeking guidance. With over 200 Dolby Atmos mixes under my belt, I've gathered invaluable insights into the essential plugins that make a real difference in this exciting new domain. This isn't just about immersive plugins, but also about those versatile tools you likely already possess for stereo mixing. Let's delve into how these plugins can elevate your immersive mixes, ensuring they resonate powerfully in the world of spatial audio.

Understanding Immersive and Spatial Audio

First, let’s demystify 'immersive audio' and 'spatial audio.' Imagine being at the heart of a sphere, with music encircling you from every conceivable angle – above, behind, around you. That's spatial audio in essence. It reproduces sound as it occurs in real life, adding a vivid, lifelike dimension to music. In Dolby Atmos, this concept takes on an even more dynamic role, creating an enveloping sound environment that truly immerses the listener in the musical experience.

Immersive audio transcends the traditional two-channel setup of stereo mixing, unfolding a 360-degree sonic landscape. In stereo, we experience the 'phantom center,' where sound seems to emanate from an invisible central speaker, an effect of equal panning to the left and right speakers. Now, extend this concept to a Dolby Atmos configuration, which typically involves at least 12 speakers. As sounds are panned horizontally or vertically, they're reproduced by the nearest speakers, significantly enhancing the immersive sensation.

The Challenge of Processed Stems in Immersive Audio

In immersive mixing, you're often working with processed stems that can include elements like compression, EQ, and effects. However, these stems can reveal imperfections like pops and clicks, which might go unnoticed in a stereo mix but become glaringly obvious in an immersive soundscape. To tackle these issues, I frequently turn to de-clickers from iZotope.

In stereo, flaws like bad edits or clicks might be masked by elements like heavy bass or dense reverb tails. But in isolated stems of an immersive mix, these imperfections stand out. Tools like iZotope RX's de-clickers are crucial here, as they proficiently eliminate these distractions without harming the stem's tonal quality or transients.

While stereo mixes require EQ compromises to blend sounds within two channels, immersive audio brings unique challenges, such as pianos sounding overly dense in low mids or backing vocals needing refinement when positioned to side speakers. iZotope Stabilizer and Soothe2 are my go-to choices here. Stabilizer deftly addresses frequency build-ups, while Soothe2 is excellent for smoothing out harsh frequencies.

Transient shapers, vital in stereo for enhancing percussive elements, find a new application in immersive mixing. Eventide's Split EQ offers an innovative way to adjust audio transients without affecting tonal balance.

Traditional dynamics tools like bus compressors and limiters, which shape transients in stereo, don't translate straightforwardly to immersive due to different channel formats and object assignments. Split EQ is essential for achieving a balanced mix without heavy limiting.

While applying bus compression across an Atmos mix can be complex, it's still possible to dynamically enhance a song for impact. Using Waves MV2 in my 7.1.4 folder aux in Pro Tools, I enhance low-level details in the mix, making them more perceptible to the listener.

Wrapping Up

While there's much more to explore in immersive mixing, these insights provide a solid foundation. I'm keen to hear about your journeys in spatial audio mixing and whether you've incorporated any of these plugins in your work.

For a deeper dive into how I utilize these plugins for immersive mixing, check out the accompanying video. And if you're looking for personalized coaching, don't hesitate to schedule a free consultation call.

Thanks for tuning in. Looking forward to our next discussion on the ever-evolving world of audio mixing.