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[Smithers]

Audio features are pretty solid.  We're working on some nice DSP additions.  Unless we go barking after every audiophile idea that comes down the road, it's hard to imagine a lot of excitement.  Fixing things that are broken is good though.

I still think there's quite a big hole regarding the playback of Dolby Atmos audio only files (or lack of). I believe MC can still only bitstream Atmos video content? It can't be done with audio files? I do hope that's something that's still being worked on? It was mentioned in a post from last year it was in contention...  https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,128668.msg893149.html#msg893149

[Awesome Donkey]

I still think there's quite a big hole regarding the playback of Dolby Atmos audio only files (or lack of). I believe MC can still only bitstream Atmos video content? It can't be done with audio files? I do hope that's something that's still being worked on? It was mentioned in a post from last year it was in contention...  https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,128668.msg893149.html#msg893149

Is there even a standard for audio-only Atmos? I've never even seen anything like this for sale anywhere, all the Atmos I've seen is part of video content.

[Smithers]

Yep, I would wouldn't mind setting up to bitstream, but MC can't do this on audio files, video only? That should be possible to fix? It would make me one very happy punter.  At the moment for Atmos audio, I have to use Windows Media Player which is horrid! It plays the audio files with Atmos back ok though...

[Smithers]

Is there even a standard for audio-only Atmos? I've never even seen anything like this for sale anywhere, all the Atmos I've seen is part of video content.

I don't think there's a standard per se, but you can playback through either .mka or .m4a.  This can be done by ripping a Blu Ray with Atmos with MKV, and then converting. Some download sites offer Atmos files now I think, not sure what container they use.

Quite a lot of good albums are getting remixed into Atmos.  There's also MPEG-H to consider as well, but that requires a different decoder, not a lot of AVRs have it yet...

[JimH]

Yep, I would wouldn't mind setting up to bitstream, but MC can't do this on audio files, video only?

MC can bitstream audio.  Try the wiki.

I've also never heard of Atmos only audio files.

[Smithers]

MC can bitstream audio.  Try the wiki.

I've also never heard of Atmos only audio files.

I thought there was an issue with it not doing Atmos on audio only files? I think it just outputs at 5.1 rather then Dolby Atmos. Playing a video file with the same content work though. From this thread... https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,128668.msg893149.html#msg893149

"If i recall correctly from another discussion, you cannot bitstream audio only files. That feature is only for audio within video.

Henrick said it was somewhere on top of his to do list, but not aware it was impkdmented yet..."

So quite a lot of albums being released in Dolby Atmos now. It's the best way to listen...  The Beatles - Abbey Road and Let It Be boxsets, REM - Automatic For The People, Steven Wilson - The Future Bites, Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup, John Lennon - GIMME SOME TRUTH, George Harrison - All Things Must Pass, Kiss - Destroyer, Gentle Giant - Free Hand, INXS - Kick to name just a few...

[JimH]

Atmos is a Dolby proprietary format, so it's not a great choice in general. 

[jmone]

I had a look at the INXS - Kick release.  The "Audio Only" parts are the same concept as what was tried with High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity_Pure_Audio_Blu-ray) and there is the old thread on these - https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,88100.msg697525.html#msg697525

- It's using a stock standard BD with the "Video" portion of the "Audio Only" tacks displaying a track listing from which you can select tracks to play and swap between ATMOS and PCM.  They play perfectly fine in MC using "Full Menu playback"
- The main M2TS contains all the tracks in one long file with the "Video" highlighting what track is being played and you can use the Chapter Markers to go between tracks.  This is the track automatically selected by MC's "Title Playback"
- If you wanted to, you could use Particles to have MC display each of these Chapters as an individual track listing. - https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Particles  (if you have a few discs to process then "Swag of Tools" may speed this up)

In summary, if you have the original disc then MC has no issues bit streaming the Atmos Audio.

[jmone]

I also have a play with remuxing this track:
- MKV with All Video/Audio Tracks:  Plays fine, lets you select what audio track to use including the ability to bitstream ATMOS
- MKA (or MKV) with only the Atmos Track:  It will play but you don't get any bitstreaming of the ATMOS extension

So if you have a MKV (with Video Track) version you are all fine to bitstream audio.  If you have created a MKA/MKV (without a video track) then (at present) you don't get the option to bitstream and playback is the core 7.1 TrueHD tracks.  This would require changes in MC to make this option available. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

I also have a play with remuxing this track:
- MKV with All Video/Audio Tracks:  Plays fine, lets you select what audio track to use including the ability to bitstream ATMOS
- MKA (or MKV) with only the Atmos Track:  It will play but you don't get any bitstreaming of the ATMOS extension

So if you have a MKV (with Video Track) version you are all fine to bitstream audio.  If you have created a MKA/MKV (without a video track) then (at present) you don't get the option to bitstream and playback is the core 7.1 TrueHD tracks.  This would require changes in MC to make this option available.

Bitstreaming MKA with Atmos metadata for height channels would be fantastic. I'm researching my own Atmos system now and writing a series of article about it. I can do AppleTV for the lossy DD+ coming from Apple Music and Tidal, but I'd love to send my Blu-ray rips to a processor in all their glory TrueHD with height channels.

The new Moby album Reprise comes with an audio only Blu-ray track.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Atmos is a Dolby proprietary format, so it's not a great choice in general.

I totally hear you on this one. I'm working on a 7.1.4 system and the only way to get the .4 height channels to work is with an Atmos decoder. Wish it wasn't true, but it is.

If I could bitstream my collection of MKA files to a decoder over HDMI, life would be good :~)

[retro]

Price is high, but would/could this help us getting Atmos of all flavors decoded within JRiver:

https://www.rspeaudio.com/Dolby-Atmos-Mastering-Suite-p/dolby-atmos-mastering-suite.htm

I would happily (well..) pay $995 to get this working....

[The Computer Audiophile]

These tools are severely limited by Dolby. Read more about them and the restrictions make it impossible to use.

This is the one that has me most interested. But, Dolby will never respond to anyone seeking it.

Dolby Reference Player
 https://customer.dolby.com/content-creation-and-delivery/dolby-reference-player-with-dolby-ac-4-v310

[retro]

These tools are severely limited by Dolby. Read more about them and the restrictions make it impossible to use.

This is the one that has me most interested. But, Dolby will never respond to anyone seeking it.

Dolby Reference Player
 https://customer.dolby.com/content-creation-and-delivery/dolby-reference-player-with-dolby-ac-4-v310

I just thought that since these are tools to MAKE Atmos soundtracks, surely they must also enable the user to listen to his own creations using the same software..?!? But maybe (probably) I'm wrong, but I still have hopes..😎

[retro]

Read some more and I'm afraid ur right. For now. But like I wrote earlier, I still have hopes..
Some more to read here for those interrested:

https://www.rspeaudio.com/demystifying-dolby-atmos-rmu-a/370.htm

Can I build my own RMU PC for Atmos?
Dolby only certifies two specific, custom configured systems with very particular components and performance requirements. The Windows option uses a Dell server and either MADI or Dante, while the Mac version uses a Mac Pro, with chassis and Dante PCIe card. To be Dolby Atmos Certified, this must be purchased from an experienced Dolby Atmos Certified dealer like RSPE Audio Solutions. RSPE has worked extensively with Dolby engineers and has the expertise to meet Dolby's highly optimized performance specifications, both in the OS and the hardware.

Anyone knows how much they charge for this Dell RMU PC..?

[The Computer Audiophile]

The Dolby Reference Player is the only hope I believe.

The others require file formats used when creating the music. Nothing playable by JRiver or rippable from blu-ray etc… Plus, the others require a DAW with plug-in to send audio to renderer and the two need to be approved to send / receive the audio.

[retro]

The Dolby Reference Player is the only hope I believe.

The others require file formats used when creating the music. Nothing playable by JRiver or rippable from blu-ray etc… Plus, the others require a DAW with plug-in to send audio to renderer and the two need to be approved to send / receive the audio.

Yesterday was all darkness.. Atmos decoded on a Windows PC seemed far away. And still does, but maybe not by quite so much..

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-does-trinnov-do-that-others-don%E2%80%99t.31456/

Later/latest MacOS does indeed decode Atmos! Almost fell off my chair. Limited to 5.1.2 for now, yes, and only works with Apple Music Atmos content. Never been an Apple fanboy, but hey..if it's in there, it can also find it's way out..hackers unite..

[The Computer Audiophile]

Yesterday was all darkness.. Atmos decoded on a Windows PC seemed far away. And still does, but maybe not by quite so much..

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-does-trinnov-do-that-others-don%E2%80%99t.31456/

Later/latest MacOS does indeed decode Atmos! Almost fell off my chair. Limited to 5.1.2 for now, yes, and only works with Apple Music Atmos content. Never been an Apple fanboy, but hey..if it's in there, it can also find it's way out..hackers unite..

macOS decodes my 7.1.4 from Apple Music, but that's not the issue. macOS can't decode TrueHD lossless Atmos, only Dolby Digital Plus lossy Atmos.

[retro]

macOS decodes my 7.1.4 from Apple Music, but that's not the issue. macOS can't decode TrueHD lossless Atmos, only Dolby Digital Plus lossy Atmos.

I know. Never can be happy for to long..
Yes, there are limitations. But it's still a first time for decoded Atmos in a "home computer".

But I'm calmly optimistic for the future. Those of us wanting Immersive formats decoded in a PC are of course few. But at least more than two..

As for myself, I've stubbornly held on to my Lynx equipped HTPC recipe since I bought my first Lynx soundcard...2003..? Somewhere around there anyway. Replaced my Krell HTS 7.1 prepro, which in itself was a really good performer at the time, but no HDMI etc..Never really been tempted to go back to separates.

There is however another way, working 100% with no losses, purely digital, to get decoded Immersive sound, incl. Atmos, Auro3D, DTS-X and what have you, INTO your PC and JRiver for further processing with like Dirac, Audiolense, what have you. With no limits in number of channels, just DAC up until wallets empty..or get a pro interface with as many channels you need...
I will go this way when I change home next time..
Not free, but not much money either..maybe from $500..
So, what's this "other way", you may ask..? Maybe you know??

Time for dinner nap..

(Mojave may not answer..)

[The Computer Audiophile]

I'm on there verge of something really cool, but I can't bitstream MKA files in MC. I can try to bitstream MKV, but I get an error that my device isn't supported. If I could bitstream MKA, I could potentially decode Atmos TrueHD without an expensive external HDMI processor.

Please please please make this happen :~)

[Hendrik]

If you cannot bitstream the audio in a MKV video file right now, then I'm afraid adding bitstreaming for pure audio files like MKA wouldn't work either if it were supported, it would talk the same way to the audio device afterall.
Bitstreaming of these new HD audio formats like TrueHD isn't as simple as sending the right data, it requires support from the audio device as well.

So while we can add support for bitstreaming MKA files (and other audio files), it would have the same requirements as bitstreaming audio in a MKV video has right now.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Bummer. I can bitstream DSD over this interface, but that's clearly different from MKA.

[Hendrik]

Since you mentioned ASIO, I'm not sure I've ever seen TrueHD bitstreaming work over ASIO, in fact I'm not sure if ASIO has any capabilities for this kind of thing.
Typically, TrueHD and similar formats just bitstream over HDMI, which means a WASAPI or even DirectSound driver.

Maybe there is something that needs to be done to allow ASIO to do this as well, if at all possible.
Briefly looking at the ASIO documentation, I only see plain PCM and DSD in there, no explicit mention of compressed formats.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Since you mentioned ASIO, I'm not sure I've ever seen TrueHD bitstreaming work over ASIO, in fact I'm not sure if ASIO has any capabilities for this kind of thing.
Typically, TrueHD and similar formats just bitstream over HDMI, which means a WASAPI or even DirectSound driver.

Maybe there is something that needs to be done to allow ASIO to do this as well, if at all possible.
Briefly looking at the ASIO documentation, I only see plain PCM and DSD in there, no explicit mention of compressed formats.

Ah thanks for the info.

[Smithers]

If you cannot bitstream the audio in a MKV video file right now, then I'm afraid adding bitstreaming for pure audio files like MKA wouldn't work either if it were supported, it would talk the same way to the audio device afterall.
Bitstreaming of these new HD audio formats like TrueHD isn't as simple as sending the right data, it requires support from the audio device as well.

So while we can add support for bitstreaming MKA files (and other audio files), it would have the same requirements as bitstreaming audio in a MKV video has right now.

Ah ok cool. Bitstreaming a MKV video file with Atmos works ok for me in MC. The problem being that these are not really video files. They are just Atmos audio on a ripped Blu Ray and there's no value in having it as a video file. They are just wasted space and don't tag correctly as an album So that's all that's really needed - MC to play back MKA by bitstreaming to my AVR, which can then decode TrueHD...

For other formats and future proofing it would also be good to look at bitstreaming MPEG-H content too? 

[The Computer Audiophile]

More TrueHD Atmos music albums will be available soon for download/purchase. The format will be MKV. Extracting the MKA makes a lot of sense for many of us. It turns the music into an actual album with tracks selectable just like any other album in our music libraries.

Just adding my voice to say it would be really great to bitstream these MKA files.

[rec head]

More TrueHD Atmos music albums will be available soon for download/purchase.

Where? I haven't looked in quite a while but enjoy what I have.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Where? I haven't looked in quite a while but enjoy what I have.

A few different sites will likely offer the MKV files. The details are being worked out now.

[thecrow]

Just to add to this.
I would love to see the ability to downmix Atmos and Surround Music into a Binaural stream to listen to spatial audio on headphones.
But I realise this is a far more complicated ask than just bit-streaming.

PS I work on the technical side of a large recording studio with two Atmos mixing rooms and there has been a real surge of interest from record companies wanting to remix content in Dolby Atmos and Sony 360, particularly since Apple released its Spatial Audio streaming service. I believe Apple are pushing the record companies to create the content in exchange for featuring their artists on the platform.