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.

In this video, I count down my top 10 immersive audio effects plugins that will transform your Atmos and Spatial Audio mixes from flat to fully three-dimensional, showcasing tools that create genuinely convincing spatial effects with intuitive controls for professional workflows. From realistic room acoustics to revolutionary spatial workstations, I explore how these cutting-edge processors give you unprecedented control over dimension, movement, and space in your immersive productions, whether you're working in film, music, or game audio.

In this video, I review a premium binaural rendering plugin specifically designed for Neumann headphones that transforms 7.1.4 surround audio into an exceptional listening experience with customizable interaural time differences to match your head size. While the plugin carries a $100 price tag on top of the already expensive headphones, its outstanding sound quality, seamless head tracking integration, and two-week free trial make it worth considering for current Neumann owners, though those seeking more affordable solutions should explore alternatives I've previously covered on my channel.

In this video, I'm counting down my top 10 underrated immersive audio plugins that deserve more recognition, from format-agnostic mixers and intuitive mobile panners to specialized Atmos compression and free hidden gems. These are the spatial audio tools that have genuinely improved my workflow and creative possibilities over years of production work, offering incredible capabilities despite flying under the radar of mainstream attention.

In this video, I show you how to solve one of the most frustrating problems in immersive audio production: multi-channel plugins that don't work properly with your DAW. Learn how to use Kushview Element as a wrapper plugin to fix channel recognition issues and properly route audio for Dolby Atmos and other 3D audio formats.

In this video, I share 10 essential Dolby Atmos mixing tips curated from top industry professionals, complemented by my own commentary and insights to help you create better immersive mixes. From establishing proper spatial foundations to avoiding common pitfalls, these carefully selected techniques will help you create more natural-sounding Atmos mixes that effectively translate across different playback environments.

In this video, I explore APL's new Virtuoso Lite, a more affordable version of my favorite binaural renderer for immersive audio production, comparing its features side-by-side with the full version of Virtuoso. While both plugins share the same high-quality algorithms and core functionality, I'll walk you through the key differences to help you determine which version might be the right fit for your immersive audio toolbox, especially if you're working with Dolby Atmos.

In this video, I take a hands-on look at the new Waves Immersive Wrapper plugin, which transforms Waves mono plugins into multi-channel tools for immersive audio production with flexible grouping, powerful sidechaining, and seamless integration between bed tracks and objects in Dolby Atmos. I'll demonstrate its innovative features and user-friendly interface by creating a practical workflow example in Reaper, showing how it can be integrated into both professional and hobbyist immersive audio production environments.

In this video, I chat with Fränk Zimmer about Sounding Future's AudioSpace – a free community-driven platform that helps immersive audio creators distribute their Ambisonics and multichannel productions while offering listeners high-quality binaural playback through any browser. Fränk shares insights about their rendering process, future plans including webcam-based head tracking, and how the platform serves as a valuable resource for both experienced spatial audio creators and newcomers looking to explore beyond mainstream formats like Dolby Atmos.

In this video, I demonstrate how to use the WavesNX Head Tracker with the Dolby Atmos renderer using the latest version of NXOSC (v1.0.5), which now allows users to specify custom port settings. This eliminates the need for complex workarounds when dealing with port conflicts, enabling smooth integration between the WavesNX hardware and the Dolby Atmos renderer's native head tracking capabilities.

In this video, I walk you through my essential audio plugin setup on my new MacBook, showcasing the tools I consider most important for working with spatial audio. From binaural renderers and ambisonics processors to specialized Dolby Atmos tools and traditional stereo plugins, I explain why each tool makes it onto my system and how I incorporate them into my immersive audio workflow.

Learn how to turn your Apple AirPods into a head tracking device for studio headphones using just silicone ear hooks and a few simple settings adjustments. By combining the AirPods' precise head tracking capabilities with your preferred studio headphones, you can create a powerful setup for immersive audio production, including Dolby Atmos, without investing in expensive dedicated tracking hardware.

In this video, I demonstrate how to use INU (Immersive Nulling Up-mixer), a powerful and affordable plugin that converts stereo tracks into multichannel mixes for Dolby Atmos while preserving the original stereo fold-down. I'll walk you through the complete setup process in Reaper and show you how to use INU's features to manipulate direct and diffuse signals, control LFE and center channels, and adjust height and spatial positioning in your mix.

In this video, I demonstrate how to set up and use Headitude, a free macOS application that captures head tracking data from Apple AirPods and guides you through integration with both Dolby Atmos Renderer and Cubase/Nuendo. I explain the unique features of Headitude, including its position maintenance and flexible OSC message formatting, while showing how Windows users can benefit from this setup by using an Apple Silicon Mac as an audio interface.

In this video, I share six topics I've been planning to cover on my channel, including YouTube 360 video creation, the WitMotion head tracker, Vienna Symphonic Library's MIR Pro 3D plugin, Audiokinetic Strata, the Zoom H3-VR Ambisonics microphone, and the Mach1 spatial audio SDK.

In this video, I show you how to get started with Dolby Atmos music production using free tools, demonstrating a complete workflow with Reaper and the Fiedler Audio Dolby Atmos Composer Essential plugin. I walk through everything from basic setup to exporting master files, and even show how to achieve accurate monitoring using headphones with head tracking technology, making Dolby Atmos production accessible without requiring an expensive studio setup.

In this review, I examine Stemcell 2, a multi-channel stem processor from The Cargo Cult that offers unique spectral ducking capabilities but suffers from significant limitations in Reaper due to its automatic channel layout detection inherited from its Pro Tools origins. While the plugin shines in DAWs like Studio One and could be valuable for film and TV audio work, its high price point and compatibility issues make it worth testing thoroughly before purchase, with Reaper users potentially better served by alternatives from Waves or PSP AudioWare.