Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos: Things are about to Change
I’ve been waiting for this new feature to come to Apple Music and it finally has. I know that it will take time to be able to hear a lot of the music from my favorite genre, Classic Rock. That said, getting this feature to selected music may “force” me to try out different artists and groups while I wait for it to come to my favorite genre. In this post I will document my first impressions of the technology across two genres of music; Jazz and Rock.
My first listen came from an artist I know a little about, drummer Art Blakey. I found his album in Apple Music under the category titled: New Music in Spatial Audio. The name of the album is: Moanin’. It felt as though I was in the room with Art and The Messengers while listening. I immediately added the album to my music library.
As I went back to the Apple Music app I noticed that, in a category titled: Playlists Made for Spatial Audio, there was in fact a playlist titled: Rock so I tried it out! Here is a sample of the songs I tried out and my reaction.
The first song I tried from the list was Buddy Holly, from Weezer...very cool song from a very cool band! The vocals are up in your face...a bit too much for my liking. The guitars feel muted. This made me think that it is possible that an appreciation of this new technology will be song dependent; how it was originally recorded and what was done with it with this new technology. So, I went on to my next choice from the list.
Here Comes the Sun, from The Beatles. I have a lot of experience with this song in different formats. This version of it felt different; warmer... more full...I really enjoyed listening to it. As I skimmed the list for what to try out next I noticed that I am really going to enjoy listening to “it” in its entirety as the selection is spot on!
Silent Lucidity was the next song I found, from Queensryche. I chose this song because my memory of it is; immersive. This version felt different. The lead singer’s voice is already haunting in the stereo version. In this new version that feeling goes to a whole other level! I felt like I was in the room with the band; it was heavenly hypnotic!
Mick and the boys were next. The Rolling Stones with Angie...I’m struggling to find the words that express what this experience is like...I know this will sound corny but you have to hear it to appreciate it! Mick’s vocals, Keith’s guitar. This version made me feel that the only way to experience it any better would have been to be in the room with them when they recorded it. Cool thing is; I can now have the experience whenever I want it!
Lunatic Fringe from, Red Rider was next. This was one of the very first songs I remember viewing on MTV back in the day so this experience was a trip down memory lane. One of the things I’m picking up on is how each of the songs I’ve chosen has something about it that I was not expecting to experience regardless of my relationship with the song. I’m trying to figure out if this is because I’m noticing it for the first time or has it always been there, hidden “behind” the stereo version waiting for me to hear it?
Prince & The Revolution came next with, When Doves Cry. I chose this song from the list because of how dynamic his music has always sounded to me. This version of this song did not disappoint! This technology is like lifting a vale from the stereo recording; revealing something that has been always there, waiting to be experienced. Among other things, Prince’s voice “tickled my ears” in moments where I wasn’t expecting it to.
Tom Sawyer from the Prog Rock band Rush came next; another song with a dynamic range before listening to it with this new technology. The middle of the song is were things get super funky! The interplay of the synth, the guitar, and of course the drums...the drums sound so deep and penetrating!
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos has left me literally speechless; save the words I’ve attempted to put down in this blog post. In a year where I am trying to bring music more in to my life this new technology certainly has given me a reason to; keep listening!!
