RECORDING June 2023 : Spatial Audio—Tips and Tools for Immersive Mixing and More

[Paul Vnuk Jr.]

RECORDING June 2023

Spatial Audio—Tips and Tools for Immersive Mixing and More

 

Atmos, Binaural, Ambisonics, Renders, Fold-Downs, Objects, Height Speakers...these are just a handful of the latest terms and buzzwords permeating the modern mixing paradigm––The June issue is all about Spatial Audio! Join us on our multi-dimensional audio journey as we dive in and explore the latest technology, tools and tips in the growing world of immersive mixing.

 

Reviews

 

We have nine products on review this month. In the speaker realm, we listen to the KH 150 studio monitors from Neumann and the compact desktop IN-UNF monitor system from Kali Audio. We also get our ears on the latest VSX Modeling Headphones from Steven Slate Audio.

 

This issues interface review is by way of the letters RME as we check out the company's latest Fireface UFX III.

 

From there, we move inside the box with a pair of plugins from dearReality with the new EXOVERB and EXOVERB MICRO reverb plugins. Also, in plugins, we add some Density from Sound Particles, and we take the MDWDRC2-Native Dynamic Range Controller from Massenburg DesignWorks for a spin.

 

Finally, we have the latest sound library from Orchestral Tools, as we have a play with Pēteris Vasks' Strings.

 

 

Special-Spatial Articles

 

If your immersive mixing journey is just beginning, if you have been at it for a while, or if you are just simply curious––Dolby Atmos is one of the key players in the discussion. The Dolby Atmos Renderer is one of the most vital components to bring your finished mixes into the world. In this issue, mix engineer and Atmos expert Will Kennedy takes us on a tour of this amazing piece of software.

 

Next, we hear from Alex Solano (also a top-tier Atmos expert), who, through the website alexpromix.com, crafts immersive Atmos mixes for both major labels and independent

artists alike. In this article, Alex focuses on some of his favorite tools!

 

Carlito “Sway” Cobos takes to Instrumentoz, a "producer's playground––where artists can learn to record, mix and experiment with immersive audio”. If you though Atmos was out of reach, this article is for you!

 

Immersive Audio Plugin Round-Up

 

While immersive audio is cutting-edge and all the rage, the format(s) is also largely in its infancy, and beyond the Dolby Atmos Renderer, many of us have little idea what tools are available to aid us in our mixes. This roundup is here to help. We reached out to many of the companies developing immersive-focused plugins to fill us in on what they have to offer.

 

 

Features

 

This year's 2023 "Winter" NAMM show falls smack-dab in the middle of this issue's production cycle. Editor Paul Vnuk Jr and Associate Editor Alex Hawley will share their thoughts on this year's show in our special RECORDING NAMM Report.

 

In Session Log, producer Marc Urselli takes us to The Armory in NYC, where he discusses his immersive live mixes for the MONOCHROMATIC LIGHT production he did with Peter Sellars. 

 

In this issue's Studio 101, Joe Albano teaches us all about phase!

 

Mark Hornsby gets into the immersive audio discussion with the question “Are all songs meant for Atmos?” in Inside The Studio, and Dave Martin offers his mixing and arranging advice in Readers' Tracks.

 

Finally, Aaron Trumm is back in this month's Fade Out––Bonus points if you can guess what his topic of discussion is.

 

There is a lot to Immerse yourself in the June issue of RECORDING!