In this video, I explore MELD from Metric Halo, a $400 channel strip plugin that brings a master bus workflow to Dolby Atmos by allowing you to group and control multiple instances simultaneously with powerful sidechaining capabilities. However, be warned: it currently has a critical bug in Reaper (and potentially other DAWs) where it doesn't save group assignments, so test thoroughly before buying.

In this interview, I sit down with Thorsten Michels, a maker from our Discord community who builds high-quality ambisonics microphones on a budget. We discuss his DIY approach to immersive audio recording and his new website, ambisonic.studio, where he's making his blueprints and knowledge accessible to anyone wanting to get started with spatial audio without breaking the bank.

In this video, I'm testing the latest update to zplane's Elastique Pitch plugin, which now includes multi-channel support for immersive audio workflows including Dolby Atmos and Ambisonics. I demonstrate how well it works across 16 channels by pitch-shifting in the Ambisonics domain, and while it performs flawlessly, I discuss one small UI improvement that would make the multi-channel mode more obvious to users.

In this video, I explore Blue Cat Audio's Patchwork plugin update that now supports 16-channel processing for immersive audio formats like 9.1.6 and third-order ambisonics, demonstrating how to integrate multi-channel beds into Dolby Atmos Composer sessions within stereo DAWs. While the feature works perfectly in the instrument version, I discovered a significant bug in the effects plugin that currently limits it to 8 channels, something I hope Blue Cat Audio will fix soon.

In this episode, I speak with Patrick Kizny, founder of Slovox and creator of the "Singing Watermelons," a family of immersive sound instruments that use beamforming technology to project sound into architectural spaces.

In this Q&A video, I'm answering your most interesting questions about the Fiedler Audio Mastering Console for Dolby Atmos, covering topics like OBAM-compatible plugins, album assembly for Windows users, plugin scanning issues, and how to use processors on individual objects. I also dive into why head tracking matters for immersive audio production, especially for VR/AR applications and as a practical solution for traveling professionals who can't take their Atmos studios on the road.

In this video, I'm reviewing the APL Duopan plugin, a new panning tool that combines traditional amplitude-based panning with time-based panning approaches based on psychoacoustic principles. I'll demonstrate its features including the T-A slider for blending panning methods, the head shadow functionality that mimics natural frequency dampening, the dual band option for frequency-specific panning, and its seamless integration with immersive audio formats.

In this Q&A video, I'm answering your questions about Eclipsa Audio—covering what it actually is, how it differs from Dolby Atmos, practical concerns about platform support, and why it's currently Mac-only despite being a Google/Samsung technology. I also share my honest concerns about why releasing this technology as open source so early in development might signal a lack of long-term commitment from the companies behind it.

In this tutorial, I walk you through the complete workflow of setting up Eclipsa Audio plugins in Reaper to create immersive audio in the IAMF format, covering everything from configuring the renderer and creating audio elements to routing tracks using both built-in and third-party Ambisonics panners. I'll demonstrate the practical process using a four-track session, showing how to work with YouTube's Base profile to create a 16-channel third-order Ambisonics environment with an additional stereo element, and finally export your project as an IAMF file ready for upload.

Dolby quietly added Apple AirPods head tracking support to the Atmos Renderer, burying this game-changing feature in a support article without any proper announcement—and it works with virtually any Apple or Beats headphones containing the H1 or H2 chip. In this video, I'll show you how to set it up, demonstrate its impressive spatial monitoring capabilities in a real mixing session, and even reveal how to use your AirPods as a head tracker for your professional studio headphones.

I'm breaking down four game-changing developments in immersive audio that have been happening behind the scenes: NovoNotes' new format support for 9.1.6 and 7.1.6 configurations, Audio Brewers' revolutionary beamforming decoder, Eclipsa Audio's open-source spatial audio plugins that finally make 3D sound accessible to everyone, and Apple's Spatial Audio Format that transforms static mixes into responsive sound environments. Each of these deserves its own deep dive tutorial which I'll be releasing over the coming weeks, plus there's another massive announcement on the horizon that could revolutionize immersive music production—but I'll have to save that for another day.

In this video, I'm kicking off a new FAQ series by answering the 10 essential questions about Ambisonics—the full-sphere surround sound technology that's become the backbone of VR, AR, and 360-degree video. From understanding the B-format and the difference between AmbiX and FuMa standards, to practical guidance on getting started with Ambisonics in your DAW and monitoring your mixes, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about this increasingly important immersive audio format.

In this video, I dive into some of the most fascinating (and frustrating) Dolby Atmos takes I've found on Reddit, tackling everything from claims that it's just a marketing gimmick to confusion about 8D music and whether you need 16 subwoofers to create an earthquake simulator. I separate fact from fiction in the world of spatial audio, explaining why immersive audio is here to stay while addressing the legitimate criticisms and misconceptions that dominate online discussions about Atmos and surround sound.

After covering the 10 most important immersive audio formats, I realized there are so many more wild and surprising stories from spatial audio's history that deserve to be told – from World War I giant mechanical ears and Disney's 1940s surround sound revolution to Pink Floyd's holophonic experiments and Lou Reed's 3D rock albums. What fascinates me most is how these pioneers were solving the same immersive audio challenges we face today, proving that humanity's obsession with realistic 3D sound has been driving innovation for over a century.

In this Q&A video, I address the most common questions from my Neumann RIME plugin review, covering everything from DAW integration and head tracking compatibility to why the plugin is specifically designed as a binaural renderer for Neumann headphones rather than a general-purpose solution. I'm also excited to share that Neumann reached out directly after my review, including a call from their CEO, which really demonstrates their commitment to engaging with the audio community.

In this video, I'm counting down the 10 most influential immersive audio formats that have transformed how we experience sound in three dimensions, based on my personal experience in spatial audio production. From pioneering 1970s surround sound to today's cutting-edge object-based standards, I'll break down the technical innovations, practical applications for producers, and accessibility of each format that has shaped the immersive audio landscape.

In this follow-up video, I dive into viewer comments from my Nomono Sound Capsule review, addressing concerns about this $2,500 spatial audio podcast recording device that converts recordings to Dolby Atmos through cloud processing. While the technology is genuinely impressive—especially how it reconstructs speaker positions from audio alone—the device struggles to find its target market, sitting uncomfortably between average podcasters (too expensive) and professional users (not quite high-end enough).

When SSL released their new immersive metering plugin, I realized it was the perfect opportunity to create something more valuable: a comprehensive countdown of the top 10 metering tools for spatial audio mixing, from basic surround to full Dolby Atmos productions. This completely subjective ranking covers everything from free open-source solutions to industry-standard references, focusing on the tools that provide the best visual feedback for making informed decisions in immersive audio.

In this episode, I sat down with Tom Ammermann, founder of New Audio Technology and two-time Grammy-nominated immersive audio engineer, to explore his journey from early surround mixing to developing the Spatial Audio Designer plugin suite used on projects like Kraftwerk's Grammy-nominated album. Tom shared invaluable insights on getting started with immersive audio, explaining how his tools enable seamless workflow from laptop creation to full dome installations, and why he believes mixing in 3D formats can actually be faster and more emotional than traditional stereo production.

In this video, I explore Fiedler Audio's revolutionary new OBAM (Object Based Audio Module) standard — the first plugin format designed specifically for object-based audio that finally brings true mastering capabilities to Dolby Atmos production. I'll demonstrate how this technology works in practice using the updated Dolby Atmos Composer with OBAM-compatible plugins from Fiedler Audio and Toneboosters, showing why this could be the biggest leap forward in immersive audio production yet.