FOUND IN SPACE: JOURNEY TO THE THIRD DIMENSION OF MUSIC SPATIALITY IN THE DOLBY ATMOS FORMAT

Abstract

In about 1550, Adrian Willaert was the first composer to stage his ensembles with voices placed physically apart. In 2019 Dolby Atmos for music was introduced and began the delivery of mainstream three-dimensional (3D) popular music to audiences. Today, this new generation of streamed media uses embedded metadata to render a compelling 3D music sound field from spatially aware playback devices that convey convincing virtual spaces and places. Offering songwriters, composers and music mixers a 3D spatial-sound tool-palette, Atmos is capable of replicating Willaert’s staging using an Atmos multi-speaker system or with binaural playback in standard stereo headphones. This technology provides an abundance of creative potential for 3D music composers and recordists. However, practitioners and pedagogues are not fully aware of the substantial metaphysical componentry involved for construction of a non-conflicting and compelling 360-degree Atmos sound field. As such, innumerable questions arise. This author focuses on two: 1) What is the substance of compelling spatiality in immersive 3D Dolby Atmos music recordings? 2) How can we find it? With interdisciplinary research and scientifically reasoned approaches, Found in Space locates and semantically describes the substantial metaphysical componentry involved in 3D music spatiality. The story unfolds in three separate episodic journeys. Episode 1 describes a compositional ethos for 3D music spatiality. Episode 2 introduces 3D music spatial theory with an analysis synergy and ear training exercises. Episode 3 describes the philosophy and benchmark for a precise eco-friendly, large scope/small scale, sole operator Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 Hyper Near-Field Tiny Studio. To conclude, all metaphysical components are gathered onto a one-page diagrammatic spider sheet to reveal the holistic DNA of 3D music spatiality. United by a central principle, the journeys seek the understanding of positional relationships, cognitive perspectives, proportional properties and character attributes. Found in Space uncovers salient literacy and concepts specifically intended for the precise understanding, and description of recorded music’s 3D spatiality. Intended for composers, songwriters, mixing engineers, and pedagogues who teach the art and craft of 3D composition in the Dolby Atmos format, an endless frontier of creative possibilities can be Found in Space.