What Is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a new way of mixing and listening to music. Instead of working only with left and right channels like in traditional stereo, Atmos lets us place sounds in a 3D space — above, below, behind, and all around the listener.

But don’t worry: you don’t need any special equipment to hear the difference. Atmos mixes are designed to work on all types of systems — from regular headphones to TV speakers to full surround systems. That means your fans can enjoy the music no matter how they’re listening.

How Does It Work?

Atmos mixes are made using a multi-speaker setup in the studio (in my case, a 7.1.4 system). But when it’s played back, the mix automatically adapts to the listener’s device:

  • On Apple Music, Atmos becomes “Apple Spatial Audio” — a 3D headphone experience.

  • On regular headphones, it translates into a binaural version that still feels spacious and immersive.

  • On stereo systems, it downmixes to stereo — meaning it still sounds great on any speaker.

So no matter where or how it’s played, the Atmos version sounds as it should.

My Atmos Workflow

When I mix in Dolby Atmos, I don’t create a separate version after finishing the stereo mix — I actually mix both at the same time, using a single 9.1.6 session in Pro Tools.

That means:

  • The stereo and Atmos versions are built side by side and feel totally consistent.

  • I’m constantly comparing both versions during the process — listening not only to the full Atmos mix but also to the stereo re-render.

  • This way, I can be sure that the stereo version holds up and the Atmos version takes it even further — without needing a completely separate mix.

Because of this approach, I can deliver a high-quality Dolby Atmos version with very little extra time or cost — it’s simply part of the mix from the start.

Why Consider Dolby Atmos?

More and more streaming platforms now support Dolby Atmos — including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and more. Labels and distributors are also encouraging artists to deliver immersive versions of their music.

Having an Atmos mix:

  • Future-proofs your music

  • Gives listeners a more engaging, emotional experience

  • Can increase your visibility on platforms that promote spatial audio content

 

What it looks like