With the growth of immersive formats like Dolby Atmos and Auro 3D, the channel format limit in Pro Tools HD of 7.1 is starting to limit what we can do in Pro Tools. Not only that but the support for the growth of the Ambisonics format for Virtual Reality content isn't there in Pro Tools when other DAWs, notably Reaper already support these formats. So we asked you what new channel formats do you need in your current and planned production workflows and these are the results...

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos, with the need for 9.1 atmos beds, is a clear requirement and we hope that the partnership between Dolby and Avid intended to develop deeper integration of Dolby Atmos immersive multi-channel surround sound in Pro Tools, which we reported back in April 2015, will come to fruition soon as we have yet to see any fruit from this partnership. Come on Avid, please get this resolved as soon as possible.

Ambisonics

If you add the two Ambisonics formats together then there is a significant demand for this format which has been revitalised with the need for immersive audio in binaural formats for virtual reality content.

Vote On Ideascale

Hopefully this poll will show Avid the importance of supporting immersive and Ambisonics formats. In addition, please continue to register your requirements for this with Avid through the Pro Tools Ideascale forum, as this is one of the few avenues we can inform Avid what features we need in Pro Tools. 

There is already an entry made by Jan Meinema back in April this year asking for Busses with user definable amount of channels - Ambisonics.

For higher channel counts there is an entry from Helge Schwarz back in March 2013 asking for 3D-Audio: 13.1-Tracks, -Busses, -Plugins.

What Do You Think?

Do the results of the poll surprise you? Are you looking to go elsewhere to complete your Ambisonic production work, because Pro Tools doesn't support the Ambisonics formats? Do tell us know what you think in the comments below.