Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio, Netflix Spatial and speaker configurations in 2.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.4, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 13.16.6…

Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio, Netflix Spatial and speaker configurations in 2.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.4, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 13.16.6…

Michael W. Bell
Talking Technology

Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio, Netflix Spatial (using Sennheiser’s AMBEO); speaker configurations in 2.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.4, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 13.16.6… It’s confusing right?

I’ve been having many conversations around the subject of immersive sound lately and it seems there are vast confusions around the technology involved, and rightly so, it’s fascinatingly complicated. “Spatial Audio” and “Dolby Atmos” are essentially two different technologies which can, and often do work together, but can also function independently of one another….

The First Gig Since 2019

The First Gig Since 2019

Michael W. Bell
Music Performance, Talking Music, Gigs/Concerts

I had a strange Friday night! I did something that at one point in my life was commonplace… And of course, I'm talking about going to gigs. Yes, I managed to get myself out for the first live music performance since the dreaded lockdowns began and as such, I felt the need to blog about it. I had always wanted to blog whenever I went to a gig or a concert, but it kind of never really happened, let's hope we can change that.

Is It Any Wonder?

Is It Any Wonder?

Michael W. Bell
Talking in Rambles, Talking Technology

I’m writing about these things because at a base level, we media composers are at least in some part observers; even nominally psychologists. It’s our job to see humans, hear stories, to imagine. We must try to understand the human experience if we are to attempt to communicate our findings through music or even sound. I’m also writing this as an antidote to my feelings of insanity on the subject, am I alone here? Is anyone else seeing or feeling this?

Don't Give Notice to the Devil

Don't Give Notice to the Devil

Michael W. Bell
, Talking Technology, Talking in Rambles

Hi, 2021, I’ve not written here for a while, but that may just begin to change! They say start or end with a quote and this one may seem out of place, but bear with me, all will make sense in the end… I’ve got a new iPad which I primarily bought for controlling Pro Tools for my music and audio projects, but it’s also been a welcome catalyst for getting me back into the healthy practice of note-taking, journaling and writing again; something I hope to continue practising diligently. I also want to publish my content somewhere that’s mine and with minimal risk of what is increasingly becoming a concern of mine, and that is censorship... Relentless censorship. Well, where else better than my website, after all, that’s what personal websites used to be for before the centralised world of platforms such as Facebook.

The Creative Spaces of Film Composers and Mix Engineers

The Creative Spaces of Film Composers and Mix Engineers

Michael W. Bell
Music Production, Talking Music, Music Composition, Talking Technology

I'm basically in love with Spitfire Audio's samples, the textures and colours they have captured over the years have been essential in reaching my audiences and telling the right stories effectively within my film scores. It was during my usual online scout for new samples for my next projects when I stumbled across a series of videos they had published known as Creative Cribs, and I wanted to share it with you guys.

Given their outreach with film composers all over the globe, they (Spitfire Audio) have been able to get an inside look at many composers studios and give us a pretty comprehensive tour. I have embedded my three favorites below and hope you guys will take the time to check them out as well as taking a look at the vast collection Spitfire have posted...

Why I Love Video Blogs

Why I Love Video Blogs

Michael W. Bell
Video Blogs, , Talking in Rambles, Talking Technology

Communication! We hear that word so often and it really is the most important element of the human condition, yet sometimes we are so utterly useless at it. 

For years the written blog was the "big" thing with everyone having an online blog published via Wordpress, Tumblr, Blogger... The list goes on and on. I always loved the idea of it, but was basically not all that great at keeping up with it and couldn't really organise my thoughts on certain subjects all that well by simply typing. I mean given this is my first post this year, I'd be inclined to say I still suck at it!

So it occurred to me, why not do this via video? I love words, I really do,  but I can ponce around for hours trying to get the terminology right and I'm always trying to find images to back what I'm saying as I don't always feel I can get my point across well enough in words. If you are recording a video, It can (and I'm not saying always), be much easier to get your point across and reach folks in a more multi-dimensional form of communication; I mean if speech is said to only count for around seven percent of our interaction with others, then surely words are open to all sorts of odd interpretation, especially if like me you don't feel all that great about some things you write…

Visiting Sony Pictures

Visiting Sony Pictures

Michael W. Bell
Talking Film, Talking Music, Music Production, Talking Technology

I recently took a trip to Los Angeles and had the opportunity to visit the Sony Pictures lot with my buddy in Culver City and wanted to share some of pictures I managed to take (we were prohibited from taking too many) and highlights from my time there.

I had initially gotten a little frustrated with myself as I was a little unprepared and after knocking on many of the studio doors (including Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions) and being told I needed an appointment, I came to realise I really should have reached out to these guys before I left for L.A. - I guess the excitement of finally visiting the United States and particularly California was a little overwhelming for me which lead me to be slightly unorganised about the whole thing; you can imagine my excitement when I was told yes I could visit Sony, and yes, I could take a look at the scoring stage as it was not being used that morning...

Load More