Yannick Moss (Yannick Moss Media and Music) asked a question.
Dolby Atmos Renderer – Objects positioned in Height are rendered only to bed-level speakers
I am reaching out for assistance with an issue where Dolby Atmos Objects positioned in the height layer (Z=100) are reproduced exclusively through bed-level speakers, despite the Renderer receiving full audio/metadata and visually placing the Objects overhead.
My setup is:
- Logic Pro with Dolby Atmos Music Panner
- Dolby Atmos Renderer as external renderer
- Monitoring configuration: 9.1.6
- Connection between Logic Pro and Renderer via localhost
- Mac system
- Current Renderer version tested: 5.5.0
- I also completely removed the Renderer and installed an earlier version, with exactly the same result.
The problem:
When I create an Atmos Object in Logic Pro and position it above the listener, the Renderer correctly receives and displays the Object at the expected height.
For example, I tested a stereo Object pair:
- Object IDs: 57 / 58
- Elevation enabled
- Z = 100
- Size = 0
- Object appears directly above the listener in the Renderer 3D room.
The Renderer also clearly shows that the Object is receiving both audio and metadata.
In the Renderer Input view, Objects 57 and 58 show:
- green signal indication, meaning audio is present
- blue metadata ring, indicating that an active metadata source is connected
So the Object audio and its positional metadata appear to reach the Renderer correctly.
However, the actual audio is only reproduced through the lower/bed-level speakers. The Height speakers do not reproduce the Object, despite the Renderer visually placing the Object above the listener.
This is particularly strange because the same 9.1.6 Height speakers work correctly with the Bed. For example, audio routed through the Bed can be reproduced by Ltm/Rtm, so the physical speaker routing and Height outputs are functional.
What I have already tested
I have tried to isolate the problem as much as possible:
1. Tested the original project.
2. Created a completely new Logic Pro Atmos project.
3. Created a completely new Object for testing.
4. Tested an Object with maximum elevation (Z = 100) and Size = 0.
5. Confirmed that the Object is visually positioned overhead in the Renderer.
6. Confirmed that the Renderer receives the Object audio.
7. Confirmed that the Renderer receives active Object metadata.
8. Confirmed that the Bed can reproduce audio through the Height speakers.
9. Removed the Dolby Atmos Renderer completely.
10. Reinstalled the Renderer.
11. Downgraded to an earlier Renderer version.
12. Tested again in a completely new project.
The behavior remains exactly the same.
There is also one Object pair in my original project that actually does reproduce correctly through the Height speakers. I disabled its movement/sequencer completely, and its Height behavior remains correct. This makes the problem even more unusual, because the Renderer is clearly capable of rendering Objects to the Height layer in the same environment.
Could you please advise what could cause an Object to be visually positioned in the Height layer while its audio is rendered only to the bed-level speakers?
please look at the screenshots.
Sincerely
Yannick Moss
My setup is:
- Logic Pro with Dolby Atmos Music Panner
- Dolby Atmos Renderer as external renderer
- Monitoring configuration: 9.1.6
- Connection between Logic Pro and Renderer via localhost
- Mac system
- Current Renderer version tested: 5.5.0
- I also completely removed the Renderer and installed an earlier version, with exactly the same result.
The problem:
When I create an Atmos Object in Logic Pro and position it above the listener, the Renderer correctly receives and displays the Object at the expected height.
For example, I tested a stereo Object pair:
- Object IDs: 57 / 58
- Elevation enabled
- Z = 100
- Size = 0
- Object appears directly above the listener in the Renderer 3D room.
The Renderer also clearly shows that the Object is receiving both audio and metadata.
In the Renderer Input view, Objects 57 and 58 show:
- green signal indication, meaning audio is present
- blue metadata ring, indicating that an active metadata source is connected
So the Object audio and its positional metadata appear to reach the Renderer correctly.
However, the actual audio is only reproduced through the lower/bed-level speakers. The Height speakers do not reproduce the Object, despite the Renderer visually placing the Object above the listener.
This is particularly strange because the same 9.1.6 Height speakers work correctly with the Bed. For example, audio routed through the Bed can be reproduced by Ltm/Rtm, so the physical speaker routing and Height outputs are functional.
What I have already tested
I have tried to isolate the problem as much as possible:
1. Tested the original project.
2. Created a completely new Logic Pro Atmos project.
3. Created a completely new Object for testing.
4. Tested an Object with maximum elevation (Z = 100) and Size = 0.
5. Confirmed that the Object is visually positioned overhead in the Renderer.
6. Confirmed that the Renderer receives the Object audio.
7. Confirmed that the Renderer receives active Object metadata.
8. Confirmed that the Bed can reproduce audio through the Height speakers.
9. Removed the Dolby Atmos Renderer completely.
10. Reinstalled the Renderer.
11. Downgraded to an earlier Renderer version.
12. Tested again in a completely new project.
The behavior remains exactly the same.
There is also one Object pair in my original project that actually does reproduce correctly through the Height speakers. I disabled its movement/sequencer completely, and its Height behavior remains correct. This makes the problem even more unusual, because the Renderer is clearly capable of rendering Objects to the Height layer in the same environment.
Could you please advise what could cause an Object to be visually positioned in the Height layer while its audio is rendered only to the bed-level speakers?
please look at the screenshots.
Sincerely
Yannick Moss
In your screenshot elevation is disabled, which would cause this behavior. Screenshot below shows elevation enabled.
-B
Screenshot 2026-09-28 at 8.16.03 AM