Pro tools Ultimate Dolby Atmos Object Pan Automation not writing properly

[chenchinwei27]

Hi all,
We have been working on a HE Atmos project, and are using the Dolby Atmos Renderer Send/Return Plugins as the mean to receive and send signal. (3 computers, one dubber and 2 mix stations)

We have recently started to experience an issue with the dubber unable to write the panning automation of the objects properly. The dolby renderer will still show the correct panning on the objects, but when we print, it only seems to take the very first automation setting and write it across the entire recording.

While a full restart of the dubber computer seems to have fix the issue, it will randomly start to have this problem again. We have an identical setup on another stage, and there isn't any same issue with that stage, so we are wondering if it is a computer issue, or is it a software problem, if anyone has encounter the same problem, please let us know, thank you.




Our dubber computer spec:

model: Mac Pro (Late 2013)
macOs:10.14.6
Pro Tools: Ultimate 22.4
Dolby Renderer:3.7.2


Dave

[its2loud]

Are you sure the dubber is in Medatata Recorder mode if using panner plugins or in Record mode on the Dubber? Why are you using the Send/Return plugins?

Recording Metadata from the RMU
Use Recorder mode to record object metadata from the RMU into Panner plug-in automation playlists in Pro Tools. When using Recorder mode, metadata from the RMU can originate from any of the following sources:
• Playback of a print master on the RMU
• Metadata sent to the RMU from another Pro Tools system
• Metadata sent to the RMU from another client (such as a System 5 mixing console using the System 5 Panner application, an AMS Neve DFC console, or an iPad using the iPad Panner-Controller application)
Recorder mode is useful for:
• Recovering lost metadata (for example, from a print master)
• Bringing object metadata from multiple Pro Tools playback machines into a single Pro Tools record machine
• Creating music and effects for a different language version of the film
• Updating previous metadata in the Pro Tools session with new data from real-
time mixing console moves (such as from a an AMS Neve DFC)
In normal Panner plug-in operation (Recorder mode disabled), each Panner plug-in is the automation master for its respective object. As the automation master, the plug-in provides object position metadata to the RMU, and Panner plug-in controls are available for use.
When Recorder mode is enabled on a Panner plug-in, the pan location cursor is red. Additionally, all Panner plug-in controls (other than Recorder mode) are read only, and are displayed as grayed out or in a lighter tone. In this mode, Panner plug-ins and their automation playlists no longer send data to the RMU. Instead, they receive data from the RMU, which can be recorded to their plug-in automation playlists.
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Authoring for Dolby® AtmosTM Cinema Sound Manual
Using the Operation Modes
Metadata is not recorded to the automation playlist on a track when the track is in input or record mode. This is because automation write modes are disabled in these modes. See Using Recorder Mode while Recording (or Monitoring) Audio.
Recorder mode can be enabled for all plug-ins in the session or individual plug-ins.
In Recorder mode, the record button on the Monitor application is disabled.
To enable Recorder mode for all plug-ins in the session:
• Click the Recorder mode button in any Panner plug-in.
To enable Recorder mode for individual plug-ins:
• <Shift>-click the Recorder mode button in each Panner plug-in.
To record metadata from the RMU to Panner plug-in automation playlists:
1. Confirm system connections and configurations. For example:
• The Pro Tools destination (or recorder) machine and any additional Pro Tools playback machines or other clients that communicate to the RMU must be connected to the network and configured for use.
• Pro Tools machines must be synced together. Common solutions include chasing LTC from a timecode generator, slaving to Sony® P2 machine control, or using the Avid Satellite Link option. If working with Avid Satellite Link, consider configuring the Pro Tools recorder machine as the first (administrator) machine, and playback machines as subsequent (nonadministrator) machines.
2. Prepare Panner plug-ins in the destination Pro Tools machine that will record incoming automation metadata, by doing the following:
• For each Panner plug-in, confirm that all of its Dolby Atmos Panner automation parameters are enabled.
• For each track with a Panner plug-in, set the Automation mode to one of the modes that write automation (such as Write, Touch, and Latch modes).

[chenchinwei27]

Thanks for getting back to me

We will definitely give it a test, but we think it is more of a pro tools issue, because in the dolby renderer, it is registering the correct pan automation for the objects.


Our setup right now doesn't include the RMU, and is strictly using the dolby renderer as our Atmos setup (dolby renderer remote on the mix stations, and the dolby renderer on the dubber computer, and using the send/return plugins within the dubber pro tools session to record those objects onto audio tracks)

We will do a bit more testing. Thanks again for your reply, really appreciate it.


Cheers,
Dave