If I do binaural mixes can I create better stereo mixes and masters by mixing with Atmos? I am an old guy that has been using Cubase since 1998 and recently did a crossgrade to Nuendo. I think Nuendo will be fun fooling around with even though I don’t do movie projects. But I do a few music videos each year. My question really is “Can I get improved stereo mixes if I mix in Atmos and render to stereo”? Thanks for any feedback everyone.
In short: No.
Slightly longer answer: It depends. If you are aiming for theatrical releases, Atmos could be the ticket for better reproduction of your stereo mixes. If this is not the goal, then don’t bother.
… greetings from another old guy.
No. Trusting a downmix process to sound good is never a good idea.
I start all my mixes in MONO, and go up from there
So far so good.
Thank you for the answer to this. All good.
Jim: 702-217-9513
The Dolby downmix from a 7.1.4 uses psychoacoustics to achieve a precise binaural and stereo Foe example rear and hights.
If you have apple logic, it comes with the original Songs/Mixes/template by Lil Nas X - MONTERO in original Stereo and the same (atmos[sised/7.1.4] and down-mixed to Spatial Audio/binaural and stereo and they sounds stunningly better, The template can be used to closely study the original stereo mix and the Atmos one… There is also Songs/Mixes from Beck or Billie Eilish which can be Spatialized using Atmos.
.
I agree, there’s no doubt that 3D mixes (not just Atmos-based ones) sound much better and more ‘emotional’ than anything else when done properly. But as I understood it, @jamespresleymusic 's original question in this thread was about the benefits of a conventional stereo mix being encoded for Atmos in general, not just binaural reproduction (which can do more harm than good, depending on the HRTF used).
that is correct. I would use binaural listening with headphones to A/B the mixes. would it make better mixes? I’m just curious on this.
Certainly, but Something in the like the steinbetgs or waves Nx virtual mix room will make your task easier.
You can also use the old analog tried and tested way.
Dialogue: 100% Center Channel
Foley: 100% Front L/R (panned to phantom center)
Hard Effects: 100% Front L/R + 50% LFE
Ambiance : 40% Front L/R, 60% Sides/Rear
Music: 75% Front L/R, 25% Sides/Rear
You can ignore the tops.
Here is a happy wrench thrown into the works here, whom decides what is a better mix? You, or the client?
I always defer to the client. 100% of the time. It is their art, their product.
Off-topic side note:
Interesting to hear you say that. Ultimately, my clients delegate this decision to me, most of the time. After all, it’s our expertise, our experience, our benchmarking capabilities. That’s what they have confidence in, and that’s why they hire us, don’t they?
I am looking at my own projects for this. I have a musical that was released in 2019 and new act in it in 2024. I looking at releasing a chapter book on the show with a download option to listen to the full musical. One option would be stereo and the other Atmos (if I do that type of mix).
I’m not starting any fires with clients. I won’t mention Atmos to them.
I mainly work with professional musicians, some with over 40 years in the business. Even with less seasoned musicians, they typically know best what they want or need to hear. It’s their vision.
I can imagine with corporate clients and other types, the decision making might be completely different, which is perfectly fine.
Cheers.
Then what I would recommend is some experimenting. Try making a Stereo mix, and do the same mix totally in Atmos, learn it, and then downmix to Stereo from that. Then compare the two mixes, see which ones you prefer.
In my field, music, typically Ambisonic and Atmos are not preferred, as most of my clients want an impactful, competitively (loud enough) Stereo mix for streaming on all platforms. None of which I am aware of, except for Apple, do any sort of Ambisonics, never mind actual Atmos. Most of my clients see Atmos as a HiFi equipment scam LOL. Same as they saw Surround 5.1 for music only applications back when that was being pushed by the major labels. “You mean for me to listen to this, I have to buy a new HiFi system for the house?!? The wife will kill me!”
Personally, I believe Atmos will be wonderful for some music releases (Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, experimental music), but will never really go mainstream. Same as what we saw with Surround 5.1 20 years ago.
LOL, Colt Capperrune, saying he loves an Atmos mix he just did. Took me 5 minutes to find something to contradict his “anti Atmos” video. Also, doesn’t he HAVE an Atmos speaker setup in his new studio? I see it right there on his page. Man, please stop spreading these types of silly videos.
“This Atmos mix absolutely crushed!” - Colt Capperrune.