Forum Post

  • Heesuk S (Dolby Laboratories)

    Hi,

    Thank you for reaching out to our forum!

    Just to clarify, Dolby Atmos is not a codec—it’s an audio technology that enables object‑based audio, allowing sounds to be placed and moved in three‑dimensional space. It can be delivered through various codecs, such as Dolby Digital Plus, depending on the platform.

    Would you be able to provide more context so that I can better assist with your question?

    Best,
    Heesuk
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    • Thank you for your response.
      So what should I think of the audio format of the atmos sound source from the developer's point of view?
      • Heesuk S (Dolby Laboratories)

        From a developer’s point of view, it might be helpful to separate codec vs. audio format/metadata layer:

        Dolby Digital Plus
        - Type: Audio codec
        - What it does: Encodes compressed multichannel audio (e.g., 5.1, 7.1)
        - Use case: Streaming, broadcast, OTT delivery

        Dolby Atmos
        - Type: Object-based audio format (not a codec)
        - What it does: Adds spatial audio metadata (objects + positioning) on top of a base audio stream
        - Key idea: Atmos = audio + metadata, not a standalone encoding format

        DDP = how audio is compressed
        Atmos = how audio is spatially described and rendered
        Expand Post