The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing has shared an online panel, "Prelude: Immersive Audio 101," part of its "Inside the Mix" series of webinar events. The session provided an overview of immersive audio production from the unique perspectives of industry-leading  panelists, who have each contributed to the growing body of immersive audio available today.

While there are a variety of immersive audio technologies — and the field is constantly growing — these technologies aim to localize sound, engulfing the listener so they feel placed inside the audio. Immersive technologies are object-based, and technicians can work in three dimensions instead of two.

This session featured panelists Darcy Proper (mastering engineer: Billie Holiday, Steely Dan, the Eagles), P&E Wing Co-Chair Leslie Ann Jones (recording engineer, Director of Music Recording and Scoring/Skywalker Sound), Jimmy Douglass (producer and engineer: Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z ) and Mike Piacentini (mastering engineer: Bob Dylan, Coheed and Cambria, Miles Ahead – A Miles Davis Biopic). The panelists were joined by moderator Brian (BT) Gibbs (producer and immersive mix engineer, Skyline Entertainment & Publishing) and P&E Wing Vice President Maureen Droney. The session streamed live for P&E Wing members and invited guests earlier this summer, and is now available below.

"All of our panelists have worked prolifically in immersive formats from 5.1 surround sound to Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio and Auro-3D," Proper said during their opening remarks. "They generously shared their personal insights and tricks of the trade, and also delved into common problems they encountered while navigating the waters of immersive sound. We are glad to be able to share this first session of our ‘Inside the Mix’ series with a lot more to come."

Following this introduction, Gibbs contributed a brief presentation outlining the history of immersive audio, while panelists each offered anecdotes that illuminated the subject. Among other topics, Jones shared her experience miking the U.S. Army Field Band and the subsequent mix decisions that resulted in a GRAMMY-winning immersive album, Soundtrack of the American Soldier.

Douglass shared additional perspective on mixing for immersive audio, generally referring to the stereo mix as the ultimate blueprint for developing a project's sound. Piacentini focused on workflow in the Sony 360 Reality Audio format, while Proper discussed tailoring project workflows to different immersive formats.

The "Immersive Audio 101" Panel is also available on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel. The Producers & Engineers Wing has parterned with several immersive brands, including Dolby Atmos, for a mult-part masterclass series on immersive audio. The series — which will be available on YouTube in the near future — will cover topics including deliverables and quality control,  room configurations and tuning, metadata, and creative solutions.

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