Dolby Atmos on MacOS

[mkt]

Ok, but in which case the Atmos config can be selected in Audio Midi?

Yes (this is with loopback)

 

[Franck]

7.1.4 is the maximum speaker count available from the Atmos renderer in OSX.

you can get to 9.1.6, as it is defined in coreaudio. It is just the AudioMidi setup utility which is limited.

I have 5.1.4 working at home

This utility opens more options:
https://github.com/deweller/switchaudio-osx/pull/68

 

[Franck]

I am using BlackHole 16ch on Mac Mini, but audio MIDI allows me to set the output device only as 7.1.4 despite the 16 channels. The Atmos option in the drop-down menu is disabled.
How did you set Amoeba?

I used loopback, I created a virtual 16ch interface, that I connected to my real interface. Loopback is smarter than Blackhole, which is not really developped. Apple Music recognizes loopback as Atmos capable.
You can try loopback for free, see if it works for you.

 

[JediJoker]

I used loopback, I created a virtual 16ch interface, that I connected to my real interface. Loopback is smarter than Blackhole, which is not really developped. Apple Music recognizes loopback as Atmos capable.
You can try loopback for free, see if it works for you.

Loopback is a very powerful, easy to use, well-supported, and relatively inexpensive application. The developer, Rogue Amoeba, has been in the macOS audio space for a couple decades now. I think it's well worth the money.

 

[dlomb11]

you can get to 9.1.6, as it is defined in coreaudio. It is just the AudioMidi setup utility which is limited.

I have 5.1.4 working at home

This utility opens more options:
https://github.com/deweller/switchaudio-osx/pull/68

Yes my question was misplaced. Was it, how do I configure a virtual device like BlackHole 16ch in 9.1.6 configuration so as to use all 16 Atmos channels?
I have read that link but I am not very hacker honestly. Could you kindly indicate step by step how to do it?
Sorry

 

[dlomb11]

you can get to 9.1.6, as it is defined in coreaudio. It is just the AudioMidi setup utility which is limited.

I have 5.1.4 working at home

This utility opens more options:
https://github.com/deweller/switchaudio-osx/pull/68

I did a search and maybe figured out how to do it:
I take the .h and .c files of that pull request and compile them with gcc, then install placing in use/local/bin, chmod +x to check it is executable, SwitchAudioSource -h to check it is correctly installed, and finally ./AudioSwitcher -l 9_1_6 -p 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 -t output to set the config.
Is it correct?

 

[zdjh22]

M

I did a search and maybe figured out how to do it:
I take the .h and .c files of that pull request and compile them with gcc, then install placing in use/local/bin, chmod +x to check it is executable, SwitchAudioSource -h to check it is correctly installed, and finally ./AudioSwitcher -l 9_1_6 -p 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 -t output to set the config.
Is it correct?

Far easier to just clone his repository:

https://github.com/franckhlmartin/switchaudio-osx.git

Just use “make” and then go down into the Release directory tree to get to the executable.

The modified AudioSwitcher works great, thanks @Franck!

 

[Franck]

M

Far easier to just clone his repository:

https://github.com/franckhlmartin/switchaudio-osx.git

Just use “make” and then go down into the Release directory tree to get to the executable.

The modified AudioSwitcher works great, thanks @Franck!

Yes, with XCode utilities it is relatively easy to build. I wish the utility owner would continue to maintain it, merge the PR, and provide executables. I don’t feel maintaining this utility, but may be there are some volunteers to take over?

Also all configurations were in MacOS Ventura AudioMidiSetup and then Apple removed them. I spoke to some engineers and I never got a good explanation why they removed it.

see:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/dolby-atmos-on-macos.31880/post-673860

If you can all open a bug with Apple, may be that will convince them to put it back

 

[dlomb11]

M

Far easier to just clone his repository:

https://github.com/franckhlmartin/switchaudio-osx.git

Just use “make” and then go down into the Release directory tree to get to the executable.

The modified AudioSwitcher works great, thanks @Franck!

EDIT. I was able to compile and set 9.1.6.
If I stream from Apple Music all 16 BlackHole channels are playing so I suppose it is in 9.1.6.
It is not clear to me how to correctly identify the channels in the DAW though.

 

[zdjh22]

Yes, with XCode utilities it is relatively easy to build. I wish the utility owner would continue to maintain it, merge the PR, and provide executables. I don’t feel maintaining this utility, but may be there are some volunteers to take over?

Also all configurations were in MacOS Ventura AudioMidiSetup and then Apple removed them. I spoke to some engineers and I never got a good explanation why they removed it.

see:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/dolby-atmos-on-macos.31880/post-673860

If you can all open a bug with Apple, may be that will convince them to put it back

I've played a bit in 9.1.6 with Apple Music and with downloaded IAA tracks in Infuse. Although the 16 channels of Loopback are engaged, Lw/Rw/Ltm/Rtm are always silent. Is this a limitation out of Atmos (eac3-joc) handling in coreaudio? Or just that the tracks I tried had metadata that did not result in those speakers being illuminated?

I need to try and see whether this is the same on my A16 with those eac3-joc IAA tracks.