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Table of Contents

Prerequisites

  • Pyramix 14.0 (or above) must be installed and authorized with Premium key for Dolby Atmos features.
  • Merging Audio Device 2.1 (or above) must be installed and configured.
  • Dolby Atmos Renderer version 3.7 (or above) must be installed and authorized on a separate MacOs or Windows computer.
  • Dolby Atmos Renderer running on a Windows computer : Merging Audio Device 2.1 (or above) must be installed and configured.
  • Dolby Atmos Renderer running on a MacOs computer : Virtual Audio Device 3.2 (or above) must be installed and configured.
    Depending on your configuration and requirements, VAD Premium might be required (Standard version being AES67 only and 64 IO Max)Merging Hapi MKII only and 64 IO Max
  • Merging Hapi MKII 
    Highly recommended over Horus and Hapi 1st generation due to the MkII ZMAN and AoIP stream flexibility.
  • Merging Anubis running the Monitoring mission (optional)
  • A properly configured managed network switch.   See this page for details and configuration guides.


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  • Timecode is required for real-time Loudness measurement in the Dolby Atmos Renderer, and will use 1 audio channel.
  • The Dolby Atmos authoring process can be quite CPU intensive, depending on the size of your project.
    Therefore, Merging recommends running Pyramix Native on i7 CPU (or more) with 16 Gb of RAM (or more).
  • Dolby Atmos Renderer on Windows: the Dolby Atmos Renderer requires MAD to be configured with a buffer size of 512 samples.  ThereforeTherefore, it cannot be used in AES67 mode (for connectivity with DANTE devices, i.e.) since AES67 requires MAD to be set with buffers sizes which are multiples of 48 (48, 96, 192 or 384 samples).
    If the Dolby Atmos Renderer is hosted on a Mac computer, there is no such limitation.

  • Recording back Live Re-renders on the Pyramix computer is possible.  The number of channels may vary depending on your computer and project configuration.
    Exporting Re-renders offline from the Dolby Atmos Renderer application is possible when opening the Dolby Atmos ADM Master file (Export Audio > Re-Renders).
  • MacMini 10Gb Ethernet port : currently not suitable for RAVENNA/AES67 network.  Please use a dedicated USB-C to Ethernet or USB3 to Ethernet adapter.
  • Currently Pyramix can only export 48kHz Dolby Atmos ADM Master files.

Configure the AES67/RAVENNA Network

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  • on the Pyramix computer is possible.  The number of channels may vary depending on your computer and project configuration.
    Exporting Re-renders offline from the Dolby Atmos Renderer application is possible when opening the Dolby Atmos ADM Master file (Export Audio > Re-Renders).
  • MacMini 10Gb Ethernet port : currently not suitable for RAVENNA/AES67 network.   Please use a dedicated USB-C to Ethernet, USB3 to Ethernet, or Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet (Sonnettech) adapter.
  • Currently Pyramix can only export 48kHz Dolby Atmos ADM Master files.


Configure the AES67/RAVENNA Network

  • Pyramix - Merging Audio Device
    Please open the MAD Panel, and click on Advanced settings :
    Set MAD in RAV/AES67 mode
    Set Merging Audio Device as Master ASIO Host
    Set the sampling rate to 48000
    Set the Buffer size to 512
    Set the Sample type to 32bit integer
    Set the required Number of Inputs and outputs:
    Up to 128 Inputs and outputs, but unused channels will still use some power processing. 
    Therefore Merging recommends you rather set the number of channels you need ; e.g. if you don't plan to use Live Re-renders, 8 inputs are sufficient.
    Merging recommends you disable the MAD - WDM, or do not set the WDM outputs to any Bridge channels, to avoid having the WDM channels routed into the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
    Set the Latency to 6/12/48 AES67 (mandatory for DANTE devices) or .
    Set the Latency to 16/32/64 (RAVENNA).
    Click on Apply
    Image Added
  • Hapi MKII
    Browse to Setup > System, and set the Latency to AES67 48smp (mandatory for DANTE devices) or Low 64 smp (RAVENNA).
  • Anubis
    Browse to Home (Merging logo button) > Settings > General, and set the Latency to AES67-48 (mandatory for DANTE devices) or Low-64 (RAVENNA).
    DANTE devices
    Your DANTE devices must be set to AES67 mode.  Please consult your DANTE device documentation for details to Low-64 (RAVENNA).


Configure the Dolby Atmos Renderer audio driver

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Important Note : The MacMini 10Gb Ethernet port (embedded) is not suitable for RAVENNA/AES67 network. 
Please use a dedicated USB-C Thunderbolt to Ethernet or USB3 to Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet (Sonnettech) adapter.

The Dolby Atmos Renderer requires specific settings to communicate with Merging RAVENNA/AES67 devices.
Please go in the System Preferences - Merging RAVENNA / AES67 Settings :

    • Switch to RAV/AES67 modeSet the Latency to 10 ms (480) AES67 (mandatory for DANTE devices) or ??????????????????? TEST 256 SAMPLESAES67 mode
    • Set the Latency to 10 ms (480)
    • Tick the Safe Mode option.
    • Set the sampling rate to 48000
    • Set the required Number of Inputs and outputs:
      Up to 128 Inputs and outputs, but unused channels will still use some power processing. 
      Therefore Merging recommends you rather set the number of channels you need ; e.g. if you don't plan to use Live Re-renders, 16 (up to 9.1.4 + Binaural) or 24 outputs are sufficient.
      SCREENSHOT BOTH AES67 AND RAV SETTING
      Image Added

Windows - Merging Audio Device driver

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    • Set MAD in RAV/AES67 mode
    • Set the Latency to 16/32/64
    • Set Merging Audio Device as Master ASIO Host
    • Set the sampling rate to 48000
    • Set the Buffer size to 512
    • Set the Sample type to 32bit integer
    • Set the required Number of Inputs and outputs:
      Up to 128 Inputs and outputs, but unused channels will still use some power processing. 
      Therefore Merging recommends you rather set the number of channels you need ; e.g. if you don't plan to use Live Re-renders, 16 (up to 9.1.4 + Binaural) or 24 outputs are sufficient.

    • Merging recommends you disable the MAD - WDM, or do not set the WDM outputs to any Bridge channels, to avoid having the WDM channels routed into the Dolby Atmos Renderer.
    • Click on Apply

      Image Added

Configure the Dolby Atmos Renderer application.

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More details on how to create sources and monitors can be found in the Anubis - Monitoring mission tutorials.
To be able to listen to the Multi-channel outputs (12 outputs -7.1.4 - in our example), you will need a Hapi MKII device connected on the network.


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  • In the World view (left pane), select both Anubis and your Hapi MKII.
  • In the Matrix (right pane), connect the relevant Anubis Monitor to the Hapi MKII.
    Note: Make sure you first select the Monitor to the Hapi MKII.set on the Anubis itself in order to see it listed for connectivity in ANEMAN
  • The Binaural Source can be listened to by selecting the Stereo Monitor (named "Phone" in our example), then the Stereo Source (named "Binaural" in our example), directly on the Anubis.

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  • Please start Pyramix.
  • Create a Dolby Atmos compatible project, or Open an existing one, or Import a Dolby Atmos ADM Master.
    Open the Pyramix mixer, and click on the Dolby Atmos button on the top right corner.

    Select the detected Dolby Atmos Server, Pyramix is now connected to the Dolby Atmos Renderer - the Mixer Dolby Atmos button will turn green.

    Note : If the Dolby Atmos Server is not automatically detected, enter the Advanced menu.  You may then enter the Dolby Atmos Server IP adress in the Server field.
    This IP address can be found in the Dolby Atmos Renderer Settings (Windows) / Preferences (Mac) > Remote clients.



    Timecode 

  • As the LTC audio channel will use 1 channel, do not exceed 127 bus outputs (Beds + Objects)
  • Go in the Mixer Configure page, add a Mono strip, and activate its DirectOut (DO)
  • Back in the Main mixer page, add the VS3 Effect > Generator on the strip.
    Open the Generator plugin, and set it to TimeCode, ) and set the output level (-10 should be adequate) (set Mute if Stopped according to your needs)
  • Set the Strip Direct Out to 128.
    You may also set the Direct Out to Pre (Pre fader)


  • Alternatively, you can create an additional Stereo bus to route the LTC, and set it to Routing Safe in the Project > Edit Dolby Atmos Master Configuration page.

  • Now, to connect the audio and the Dolby Atmos Configuration from Pyramix to the Dolby Atmos Renderer, please go in Project > Edit Dolby Atmos Master Configuration.
    Configure the Dolby Atmos channels as required, then click on Update Dolby Atmos Renderer.
    Pyramix will send the Dolby Atmos configuration to the Dolby Atmos Renderer, and also automatically route the Mixer bus channels accordingly.
    Close the window once finished (for more details on the Dolby Atmos Master import, export and configuration, please see Pyramix User Manual).
  • Note on theAutomatic Routing
    When using the Update Dolby Atmos Renderer, all the bus channels that doesn't have an Atmos mapping will have their routing removed; the additional busses won't be routed anymore.
    You may prevent the automatic routing to modify additional busses outputs by activating the Routing Safe option in the Edit Dolby Atmos Master Configuration page.

Notes

  • Dolby® Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories 
    Licensing Corporation. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 2021 Dolby Laboratories. All 
    rights reserved.
  • The computer running the Dolby Atmos Renderer application should also be properly configured for real-time audio applications.
    Please consult our configuration guides for Windows computers or Mac computersoutputs by activating the Routing Safe option in the Edit Dolby Atmos Master Configuration page.

Notes

  • Dolby® Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories 
    Licensing Corporation. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 2021 Dolby Laboratories. All 
    rights reserved.
  • The computer running the Dolby Atmos Renderer application should also be properly configured for real-time audio applications.
    Please consult our configuration guides for Windows computers or Mac computers.
  • Apple Mac M1 users : as of today (Dolby Atmos Renderer v3.7.3), the Dolby Atmos Renderer is compatible with, but not fully qualified on, M1 Macs, as the Renderer runs as an Intel process (see Activity Monitor under the “Kind” column) via the Rosetta 2 translation layer, which may cause performance issues.