The Basics of Dolby Atmos Speaker Array Setup

As Dolby Atmos becomes more widely requested and embraced, more people are making the decision to install systems for both business and creative purposes. There is a school of thought that Atmos systems must follow incredibly strict rules in order to do any work at all.

In truth, however, the specs for setting up an Atmos speaker array for music mixing are pretty forgiving. Dolby has even created a tool to help you find the correct speaker placement for your space (I’ll get to that later).

That said, just as poor speaker placement in a stereo setup can make it difficult to correctly hear whether or not you’re making good mix decisions, the same is true for an Atmos array. And because we’re dealing with so many more speakers, those problems compound quickly. You don’t want to be shocked when you strap on the headphones for the first time or hear your mix on a soundbar or in a car. So, whether you’re planning a DIY installation or hiring a design/installation company to help you out, understanding some basics before diving in is worthwhile.