Want to push your Dolby Atmos sound system with films that hit the heights? Read on…
Dolby Atmos sound is seemingly everywhere, from soundbars to phones, and soon you may even find it in your car. But if you have AV equipment that supports Dolby’s immersive audio tech, what should you be watching to ensure you are getting the most out of your system?
Atmos expands upon a traditional surround set-up by adding channels to bring sound from overhead. But Atmos is about more than just shoving some speakers in your ceiling and waiting for a chunky aeroplane sound effect. The technology is used by filmmakers in the mixing stage to place sounds and voices at exact points in the soundfield rather than more broadly assign them to discrete channels. So, in addition to the traditional combination of up to 9.1 channels, Atmos can deliver up to 118 simultaneous sound objects, creating an enveloping soundstage that is replicable by any kit with the capacity to decode it, from theatre systems to ‘virtual’ Atmos-enabled headphones.
As well as adding thrilling movement to action sequences, Dolby Atmos can subtly enhance perspective and immersion in both effects and music. In the hands of a great sound designer, it provides the flexibility to build sonic landscapes that can transport, terrify and move you…
The Batman (2022) Batmobile Chase
Drawing its cinematic aesthetic more from 2019’s Joker (by way of ’70s noir) than previous Batman outings, this offers us a grittier, grounded, and more expressionistic Gotham. With a Dolby Atmos system, the outstanding sound design lets viewers dip in and out of the characters’ perspectives, intensifying the dramatic suspense and thrilling action.
Dolby Atmos is frequently used to create breathing room within the dense soundscape, allowing the heavy, liturgical score, rich tapestry of effects and hushed voices to co-exist without competing. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than during Batman’s pursuit of the Penguin. The Batmobile rips through the middle of the soundfield while passing trucks, falling crates and sheeting rain bombard the viewer. But, the narrative of the sequence remains thrillingly clear, even with the persistently building music, guttural gunshots and spectacular sub-bass. From the car interior to the bumper to mid-air vehicle flip, every possible plane is wrung out of the speakers to exhilarating effect.
The Power Of The Dog (2021) The Duelling Banjo
A particularly stark and minimalist sound design reflects the isolating impact of the Montana landscape while Dolby Atmos is used to su
