
For over a decade, stereo and mono vinyl records co-existed before the transition to stereo was complete. During that time, many records were released in both mono and stereo. We're in a similar situation now, with stereo still ruling the world but with immersive sound (primarily Dolby Atmos) coming on strong. It makes sense to release music in both formats-and Studio One makes it easy.
I release my music on YouTube, which doesn't support multichannel Atmos files. But YouTube can play back Atmos files that have been rendered as binaural stereo. As long as people listen on headphones or earbuds, the music will have that full, wide immersive quality. So, I now post a headphones-only Atmos mix, and a conventional headphones/speakers stereo mix. Given how many people listen to music on headphones or earbuds, this isn't as limiting as it might seem.
So does this work? Following are links to a binaural and stereo mix of the latest song in my YouTube channel. Both are done entirely in Studio One 6.5. Don't expect instruments whizzing around your head-this isn't a movie or a game. The more you listen to Atmos Binaural mixes and acclimate to what the process does, the more you hear the full, wide effect compared to stereo.
Atmos Binaural (headphones or earbuds only)
Stereo (speakers or headphones)
Here's an overview of why Studio One makes this process so easy, especially if you're used to mixing with headphones. Refine the Atmos mix as much as you can with headphones, because that's how people are going to listen to it. Then, create a new Project in the Project page.
Set the Dolby Renderer to Binaural, and send the file to the Project page. Return to the Song page, choose Stereo for the Renderer to downmix your Atmos mix to stereo, and then add that file to the Project. Your Project will then have both Atmos Binaural and Stereo files, which you can export for your two mixes.
Note that the stereo downmixing is faithful to the mix. Of course, the stereo file lacks the Atmos fullness, but you don't lose any of the music. In fact, because the downmixing tries to translate any Atmos nuances to stereo, you may end up with a better stereo mix than if you'd started with a stereo mix.
How to Do It-The Details
Here's the step-by-step process.
1. Finish your Atmos mix. Make sure it sounds awesome on headphones . The Dolby Atmos Renderer should be set to Binaural (fig. 1).
Figure 1: Choose Binaural for the output when rendering to Atmos Binaural.
2. Choose Song > Add to Project > New Project Song Title.
Figure 2: The New Project will eventually contain both the Atmos Binaural and Stereo renders.
3. Set the Sample Rate, and click OK. Click OK again when asked to update the mastering file. Optionally, normalize it after it's updated.
4. Go back to your Atmos mix. Save As Song Title Stereo. (This gives you separate songs for Atmos and stereo, in case you want to make changes later in either one.) In the Atmos renderer, change the Output from Binaural to Stereo.
5. Choose Song > Add to Project > Song Title (the top item in the list, not the New Project item that's the next one down).
6. Click OK when asked to Update Mastering Files.In your Project, the Atmos mix will be followed by a track with the Stereo mix (fig. 3). If you normalized the Atmos mix, normalize the Stereo Mix.
Figure 3: Both the Atmos and Stereo mixers are now in the Project page.
7. Add the insert processor(s) for the Atmos track and edit as desired. I typically use the Waves L3-16 to attain an LUFS reading of -12.5 so that the mix pops a bit more, with a True Peak between 1.0 and 1.5.
8. Drag the processor from the Atmos track insert to the Stereo track name in the track column. This inserts the processor in the Stereo file's track.
9. Check the Loudness Information for the Stereo track. It will likely be lower. Edit your insert processors to obtain the same Post FX LUFS level as the Atmos track.
10. Listen to the stereo mix over loudspeakers as a reality check.
11. Click on Digital Release, and choose the formats for the two files.
And now, you've given your listeners a choice between an immersive binaural mix, or a conventional stereo one.
Tips
In step 8, if you use more than one processor on your master file, it's probably simplest to save the processors as a temporary FX Chain you can import into the other track.
Because both mixes end up in the Project page, it's easy to compare the two. The Phase meter will confirm the fuller sound you're hearing, by displaying a wider, fuller stereo spread.
You can process the master file in the Post fader insert section of the Main fader. However, I recommend doing it in the Project page, so you can go back and forth between the two files and obtain a consistent level prior to exporting.
If there are significant differences between the two files (unlikely), you can return to either the original song or the one with Stereo in the title. Make your edits, then re-render.
Similarly to mixing stereo over different loudspeakers to get a sense of how the mix translates over different systems, it helps to do reality checks on your Atmos Binaural mix with several different headphones.
North America Stories
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
DARTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM, MAY 5, 2026 When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin ...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
05/05/2026
SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...
05/05/2026
With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...
05/05/2026
A crash in 2015 set the industry back, but this winter proved that drones are he...
05/05/2026
L3Harris provides communications, electronic warfare, sensors and mission systems that enable Virginia-class submarine crews to operate with confidence in conte...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Project Marks First Major Broadcast Deployment of Latest Addition to SNP Lineup
Imagine Communications today announced that France T l visions is the first br...
05/05/2026
Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of the Year Award
Shotoku Broadcast Systems announced today that its Swoop range of robotic cranes has be...
05/05/2026
DigitalGlue's creative.space Intelligence Wins Future's Best of Show Award, Presented by TV Tech
creative.space Intelligence (CSI), part of the creativ...
05/05/2026
Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, will showcase next-generation broadcast workflows at the Media Production and Technology Show ...
05/05/2026
Stingr marks its launch with a new approach to second-screen interactivity
Brie Clayton May 5, 2026
0 Comments
Huge leap forward in revenues and engag...
05/05/2026
Shotoku Broadcast Systems Wins 2026 NAB Show Product of the Year Award
Brie Clayton May 5, 2026
0 Comments
Shotoku Broadcast Systems announced today tha...
05/05/2026
Following a successful NAB Show in Las Vegas, DHD will promote examples from its wide range of broadcast-quality audio production equipment at the May 13th-14th...
05/05/2026
LucidLink today announced its programme for MPTS 2026, where it will exhibit at Stand M59 at Olympia London, 13 to 14 May. The company will showcase its latest ...
05/05/2026
Limecraft today announces the release of Limecraft 2026.3, the third platform update in its 2026 release cycle. Limecraft is an AI-powered production platform t...
05/05/2026
Huge leap forward in revenues and engagement...
05/05/2026
Broadcast Solutions, a leading system integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, has taken another significant step in st...
05/05/2026
Operative today announced the appointment of Dang Ly as Chief Product Officer, signaling the company's accelerating commitment to delivering the next genera...
05/05/2026
The Media Talent Manifesto (MTM) today announces the return of the World Skills Caf at IBC2026, positioning the event as a critical industry forum to confront ...
05/05/2026
ARRI unveils Omnibar: compact, modular, battery-powered IP65 LED bars with preci...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Digital Domain Welcomes Award-Nominated VFX Supervisor Jelmer Boskma
Brie Clayton May 4, 2026
0 Comments
Digital Domain, a global leader in visual eff...
05/05/2026
Enterprise AI has learned to generate. It has learned to reason. Now companies are asking the next question: How should AI act?
Early agent systems have shown ...
05/05/2026
May 5th, 2026 Press Materials Available Here
2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL UNVEILS EXP...
05/05/2026
Back to All News
Limited Series About The Greatest Soccer Team Of All Time: Net...
05/05/2026
GoVertical! Technology Recognized for Ability to Provide Real-Time 9:16 Autocrop...
04/05/2026
Hardware is still an emphasis - Supershooter 11 is new, and REMI-based 65 is in ...
04/05/2026
Head of International Business Development Min Joo Kim explores the league's...
04/05/2026
Audio-Technica has announced that its ATND1061 ceiling array microphone and ATUC...
04/05/2026
Triple B Media has launched Bowling TV, a free ad-supported television (FAST) channel dedicated to bowling. The channel is available on Prime Video, LG Channels...
04/05/2026
PlayMetrics, a provider of operations management software for youth sports organizations, has announced the completion of its acquisition of substantially all t...
04/05/2026
IHSE GmbH has announced that Dr. Thomas Niessen has joined as CEO and Managing Director, effective May 1, 2026. He joins Frank Breitenfelder, who has served as ...
04/05/2026
PMY Group deployed its AI-powered crowd intelligence platform, Optic, at the For...
04/05/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...