Release a Dolby Atmos version

A Dolby Atmos mix goes out as a Dolby Atmos version: a release of its own, made from your approved stereo release. It shares everything with the stereo release (titles, artists, credits, tracks and artwork), because stores ask for identical metadata. Its own are a UPC, an optional catalog number, and on each track the Dolby Atmos master with its Atmos ISRC.

The Dolby Atmos version is delivered for Apple Music (Spatial Audio). The stereo release goes everywhere else as usual.

Before you start

• The stereo release must be Approved, so it has its UPC and ISRCs.
• You need a Dolby Atmos master for every track of the release.
• A release can have one Dolby Atmos version. A music video can’t have one.

Make the Dolby Atmos version

1. Open Catalog → Releases → Dolby Atmos and choose New Dolby Atmos version.
2. Pick the approved release.
3. The version is created as a draft: Dolby Atmos version created: add each track’s Dolby Atmos master.
4. On each track, choose Upload Dolby Atmos master and upload its ADM BWF file.
5. Leave the Atmos ISRC to be assigned, or enter your own (it must differ from the stereo track’s ISRC).
6. Leave the UPC to be assigned, or enter your own. Add a catalog number if you use them.
7. Submit it for review.

You can also open it from the stereo release’s page with Open Dolby Atmos version once it exists.

The master file

Each track’s Dolby Atmos master must be an ADM BWF file, exported from the Dolby Atmos Renderer:

• A Broadcast WAV (.wav; RF64 or BW64 for files over 4 GB), up to 8 GB.
• 24-bit PCM at 48 or 96 kHz.
• More than two channels, with the ADM metadata (its axml and chna chunks).
• The same length as the track’s stereo master.

The upload reads the file and shows its format, the bed (for example 7.1.2) and the number of objects. If it isn’t an ADM BWF, you’re told to export it again from the Renderer as ADM BWF.

What you can’t change

The titles, artists, credits, track list and artwork come from the stereo release and can’t be edited on the Dolby Atmos version. To change them, change the stereo release. Only the Atmos masters, the Atmos ISRCs, the UPC and the catalog number are the version’s own.

Delivery and release date

The Dolby Atmos version has its stereo release’s release date. It’s delivered after the stereo release, so the store can link the two. That can take a little longer than a stereo delivery; submit the version as early as you can if you want it on release day.

Credits

If your release credits an immersive mix engineer, add the Immersive Mixing Engineer role on the stereo release’s tracks. See the Metadata style guide.