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Знаете ли вы, что в Windows 10 можно легко и быстро включить пространственный звук, чтобы наслаждаться эффектным иммерсивным звучанием?
Что такое пространственный звук (Spatial Sound)?
Представьте, что вы смотрите фильм или играете в компьютерную игру и слышите звук пролетающего вертолета не только вокруг, но и прямо над головой. Система пространственного звука дает такую возможность! Это современная иммерсивная технология, создающая эффект объемного звучания в виртуальном трехмерном пространстве, вокруг вас и над вами. Пространственный звук создает более реалистичную атмосферу, превосходя старые форматы объемного звучания типа «звук вокруг».
С пространственным звуком все фильмы и игры звучат круче. Самый высокий уровень погружения и точности дают игры, фильмы и телешоу со встроенной поддержкой этой новой технологии. Но даже если такой поддержки нет, все равно любой контент, подходящий для традиционных систем объемного звучания, автоматически звучит гораздо эффектнее.
Какие форматы пространственного звука поддерживает Windows?
В Windows 10 доступны три варианта пространственного звука: Windows Sonic для наушников (Windows Sonic for Headphones), Dolby Atmos для наушников (Dolby Atmos for Headphones) и Dolby Atmos для домашних кинотеатров (Dolby Atmos for home theater)*.
Windows Sonic для наушников можно использовать с любыми наушниками, микронаушниками и гарнитурами. Этот вариант делает звук во всех фильмах и играх более иммерсивным и обеспечивает очень высокую точность звукового окружения в играх.
С Dolby Atmos домашние и портативные устройства обретают звук Dolby премиум-качества, как в кинотеатрах. Этот вариант можно использовать с наушниками или с домашними кинотеатрами, телевизорами и акустическими системами, поддерживающими Dolby Atmos. Формат Dolby Atmos позволяет получить иммерсивный, крайне эмоциональный звук при просмотре большинства современных кассовых фильмов. Игры, поддерживающие Dolby Atmos, позволяют игрокам испытать совершенно новый уровень потрясающей детализации, точности и реалистичности пространственной звуковой картины.
Как включить Windows Sonic для наушников или Dolby Atmos?
Windows Sonic для наушников поддерживается в Windows 10 по умолчанию. Чтобы включить этот вариант, следуйте приведенной ниже инструкции.
Чтобы включить поддержку Dolby Atmos, загрузите бесплатное приложение Dolby Access из Магазина Microsoft. После этого вы сможете наслаждаться улучшенным звуком домашних кинотеатров, телевизоров и акустических систем с поддержкой Dolby Atmos без какой-либо платы. А чтобы включить поддержку Dolby Atmos еще и для наушников, вы можете приобрести через приложение Dolby Access подписку, распространяющуюся на 10 устройств (включая Xbox One).
Как включить на моем компьютере Windows Sonic для наушников или Dolby Atmos?
Чтобы включить пространственный звук на ПК под управлением Windows 10:
- Подключите наушники или AV-ресивер с поддержкой Dolby Atmos к ПК через порт HDMI.
- Кликните правой кнопкой мыши значок звука в области уведомлений на панели задач и выберите вариант пространственного звука, который хотите использовать. (Примечание: при выборе Dolby Atmos для наушников или Dolby Atmos для домашних кинотеатров будет выполнен переход в магазин для загрузки бесплатного приложения Dolby Access. Там будут предоставлены инструкции, следуя которым, вы сможете приобрести или включить в пробном режиме Dolby Atmos для наушников или включить Dolby Atmos для домашних кинотеатров.)
- Запустите свою любимую игру или фильм. Наслаждайтесь!
* Доступно на ПК под управлением Windows 10 Creators Update и более поздних версий.
Tags: Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Windows 10, Windows Sonic, звук
Spatial sound is a new format included on Windows 10, and it enables a more immersive audio experience. When you enable spatial sound using “Windows Sonic” or “Dolby Atmos,” the audio will feel that is playing around you, instead of through speakers (or cheap headphones).
In other words, spatial sound is what Microsoft refers to 3D sound, and Windows 10 leverages this new format by using a combination of optimized audio to deliver this listening experience, apps that support the feature, and headphones configured for spatial sound.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to configure spatial sound on Windows 10 for headphones and home theaters.
- How to enable spatial sound for headphones
- How to enable spatial sound for home theater
How to enable spatial sound for headphones
To configure spatial sound for your headphones on Windows 10, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on System.
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Click on Sound.
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Under the “Related settings” section, click the Sound Control Panel option.
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Select the playback device (for example, headphones or speakers).
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Click the Properties button.
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Click the Spatial sound tab.
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Under the “Spatial sound format” section, select the Windows Sonic for Headphones option.
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Click the Apply button.
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Click the OK button.
While you can use the spatial sound format on any headphone, it should be noted that it will work best with headphones designed to take advantage of this feature.
How to enable spatial sound for home theater
If you want to use Dolby Atmos with your home theater, you’ll need to purchase the Dolby Access app from the Microsoft Store.
To configure spatial sound for your home theater using Dolby Atmos, use these steps:
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Open Microsoft Store.
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Click the Install/Open button.
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Click the Open Microsoft Store button.
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Click the Install button to install the Dolby Access app on Windows 10.
Dolby Access app download -
Click the Launch button.
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Skip the setup suggestions.
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Click the Products tab.
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Select the Dolby Atmos for home theater option.
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Click the Setup button.
Dolby Atmos for home theater -
Click the Continue button.
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Turn on your home theater.
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Continue with the on-screen directions.
After you complete the steps, your home theater should be working with the new sound format. Alongside the ability to configure your home theater, remember that you can also use Dolby Atmos with supported headphones.
Update June 18, 2020: Originally published in April 2017, and it’s been revised to reflect new changes.
Mauro Huculak is a
Windows How-To Expert and founder of
Pureinfotech
(est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist,
Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications:
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VMware Certified Professional (VCP),
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Quick Links
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How to Enable Dolby Atmos on Windows 10
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How to Try Microsoft’s Free Alternative, Windows Sonic for Headphones
Windows 10’s Creators Update added support for Dolby Atmos positional sound. This includes two things: Support for Dolby Atmos hardware and virtual Dolby Atmos sound that works in any pair of headphones.
The Dolby Atmos for headphones feature is a bit weird. It appears in the standard Windows control panel as an option, but it requires a free trial or $14.99 purchase via the Windows Store before you can actually use it.
What Is Dolby Atmos?
Traditional 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound uses 5 or 7 speaker channels, plus a subwoofer. When you watch a movie or play a game with surround sound, that movie or game is actually sending 6 or 8 separate channels of sound to your speakers.
Dolby Atmos is an improved type of surround sound. It isn’t mixed into several separate channels; instead, sounds are mapped to virtual locations in 3D space, and that spatial data is sent to your speaker system. A Dolby Atmos-enabled receiver then uses specially calibrated speakers to position these sounds. Dolby Atmos systems may include ceiling-mounted speakers above you or speakers on the floor that bounce their sound off the ceiling, for example.
This feature requires Dolby Atmos-enabled hardware, notably a Dolby Atmos-enabled receiver. Microsoft also just added Dolby Atmos support to the Xbox One, and many Blu-ray discs include Dolby Atmos audio.
Windows 10’s Creators Update also added a separate feature named «Dolby Atmos for headphones». This feature promises improved positional audio in any pair of headphones or earbuds. You don’t need special Dolby Atmos headphones. It’s a type of virtual surround sound built into Windows.
Really, this is a completely different feature that’s only linked by Dolby’s branding. True Dolby Atmos requires a hardware receiver and special speaker setup, while Dolby Atmos for headphones is a digital signal processor (DSP) that takes surround sound from your PC and mixes it to offer an improved positional sound experience in headphones.
Some games have already added support for Dolby Atmos for headphones. For example, Blizzard’s Overwatch includes built-in Dolby Atmos support, and it works even if you’re not running Windows 10’s Creators Update. You can enable this feature from Options > Sound > Dolby Atmos for Headphones in Overwatch. Blizzard argues that Atmos offers an improved experience that allows you to more easily pinpoint where sounds are coming from in the game.
How to Enable Dolby Atmos on Windows 10
To start using this feature, download the Dolby Access app from the Windows Store and launch it.
The app will guide you through setting this up. If you have Dolby Atmos receiver you want to use with your PC, select «With my home theater». If you want to use any pair of headphones, select «With my headphones».
If you select a home theater PC, you’ll be given a link to enable the «Dolby Atmos for home theater» option in the Windows Sound settings control panel. After you do, the app will prompt you to calibrate your system. There’s no additional purchase necessary for the home theater option—you just need the hardware.
If you select headphones, you’ll be prompted to confirm your PC’s sound hardware supports the Windows 10 spatial audio platform for headphones. Modern PCs should have sound drivers that support this feature, but you may be out of luck if you have a much older PC you’ve upgraded to Windows 10.
The Dolby Atmos for headphones feature isn’t free. While Microsoft integrated it into Windows, Microsoft clearly didn’t pay the licensing fees to allow any Windows user to use it.
You can still try Dolby Atmos for headphones for free, however. Click the «30-day trial» button to enable it.
Once you’ve enabled the free trial, you’ll be prompted to enable Dolby Atmos for headphones. Click the «Configure PC settings» button and then select «Dolby Atmos for headphones» in the Spatial sound format box.
This option actually appears in the properties window for your audio device even if you don’t have the Dolby app installed. However, if you try to enable this feature without installing the app first, Windows will prompt you to install the Dolby Access app from the Windows Store first.
How to Test Dolby Atmos
The Dolby Access app will allow you to test Dolby Atmos by playing a variety of videos that support Dolby Atmos audio.
While the videos are impressive enough, you’ll want to actually test Dolby Atmos by playing some PC games or watching some surround sound-enabled videos before paying for it and see if you can notice an appreciable difference. Some people say they notice an improvement, while others don’t notice much of a difference. It likely depends on the games you’re playing videos you’re watching, too.
When testing Dolby Atmos, be sure to enable 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound in whatever game or application you use. The application will then produce surround sound, and Dolby Atmos will mix it to stereo sound for your headset.
You’re free to test Dolby Atmos for 30 days, after which it will cost $14.99 to buy Dolby Atmos for headphones support from the Windows Store.
How to Try Microsoft’s Free Alternative, Windows Sonic for Headphones
Windows 10’s Creators Update also offers a free «Windows Sonic for Headphones» option you can enable instead of Dolby Atmos. Just right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, select «Playback Devices», click your playback device, and click «Properties». On the Spatial sound tab, select «Windows Sonic for Headphones».
You may want to test this feature to see how it compares to Dolby Atmos for Headphones in your games and videos. We’ve seen some people say it doesn’t work quite as well as the Dolby Atmos option in their experience, but we’ve also seen some people say they don’t notice much of a difference.
When it comes to sound, everyone often has their own opinion. Audio quality can be very subjective.
Dolby Atmos is supported on Windows 10 and 11. Microsoft has created Microsoft Spatial Sound, a platform level solution for spatial sound. This solution supports TVs, home theaters, and sound bars that support Dolby Atmos. It also supports spatial sound rendered by Dolby Atmos for Headphones.
and WWISE write to the Microsoft Spatial Sound Interface (APIs), including ISpatialClient and iSpatialAudiobject. These enable audio engines to create audio streams that emit audio from a position in 3D space. These are then passed on to the Dolby Atmos Renderer which converts them to a Dolby Atmos bitstream to be passed through HDMI to TVs, home theaters, and sound bars, or to Dolby Atmos for headphones.
WWISE 2019 requires the Microsoft_Spatial_Sound_Platform_Output plug-in on the spatialized output bus for PC & Xbox Series X|S.
Dolby Atmos Documentation
Get more information on:
- What Dolby Atmos is
- Studio configuration
- Signal flow
- Audio middleware configuration and implementation
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Dolby Atmos Introduction and Implementation
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Studio Design
Designing your game in Dolby Atmos starts with the setup of your sound studio. This page contains information on bass management, room calibration, and speaker setup.
Set up your studio
Implementation
Dolby Atmos is enabled on the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows desktop (Win32) applications, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications by leveraging Microsoft’s Spatial Audio APIs. This allows developers to create dynamic audio objects that move throughout the soundscape using Microsoft’s ISpatialAudioClient.
In general, developers using ISpatialAudioClient will do the following to add dynamic audio objects:
- Create static and/or dynamic audio objects.
- Feed each object’s audio buffer each frame so the system can render it.
- Update dynamic objects’ 3D positions on demand — as frequently (or infrequently) as the app desires.
For more information on using Dolby Atmos with Microsoft’s Spatial Audio APIs, see MSDN’s entry on Spatial Sound for Developers.
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Spatial Sound for Developers
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Dolby Atmos for Xbox & Win 10
Technologies
Artistic Considerations
If you are used to designing for stereo or even 5.1 sound, making the jump to Dolby Atmos does require some changes in how you think about sound design. These pages will provide some tips and considerations that may help.
Logos and Guidelines
The Dolby Atmos® logo is available for applicable titles. Here you’ll find access to both the white and black logo and the Usage Guidelines.
We ask that you complete the Dolby Atmos Requirements Form and submit any artwork containing the Dolby Atmos logo for review prior to game manufacturing/distribution.
Please note that this process for obtaining logos does not apply to mobile games. Please email your Dolby contact or fill out the form here if you are working on a mobile title.
Horizontal — White on Black
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Horizontal — Black on White
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Vertical — White on Black
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Vertical — Black on White
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Please refer to the following Usage Guidelines for logo parameters, sizing, color palette, and correct usage of Dolby trademarks and technology names.
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Dolby Atmos Logo Guidelines
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If you patched your Windows 10 with the Creators Update, you’d be pleased to know that it has added support for Dolby Atmos. Windows 10 is a little late to the party, as Xbox One and PlayStation 4 embraced this sound technology right from the get-go. While you need to invest serious dollars in Atmos-powered hardware to get the absolute best of this technology, you can also go the cheap route and try a piece of Dolby’s Atmos object-based spatial sound for free. The best part of this free alternative is that you can try it out on any PC and with just about every pair of headphones.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is a new 3D surround sound technology that is marketed as a spatial sound. Embraced as the successor of the traditional surround sound (5.1 and 7.1), Atmos is a lot more clever when sending sounds to your speaker system or headphones.
While traditional surround technologies use 5 or 7 separate channels to distribute sounds, Atmos doesn’t use channels at all. Instead, it creates a surround effect by mapping sounds to virtual locations in 3D space, which also adds height to the whole surround equation. This is why all high-end sound systems with Atmos support include a ceiling-mounted speaker (or a floor speaker that bounces the sound off the ceiling). This all makes for a smoother, more realistic surround sound, otherwise impossible via the traditional channel-based approach.
However, if you want to embrace the full power of Atmos, Windows 10 support is not enough. You’ll need to purchase an Atmos-enabled receiver capable of positioning these sounds in 3D space. In addition to that, your PC needs to be capable of outputting via HDMI.
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
The Windows 10 Creators Update also added a separate Dolby Atmos feature called Dolby Atmos for headphones. Instead of using an Atmos-compatible receiver and a special speaker setup, Dolby Atmos for headphones uses a digital signal processor (DSP). In other words, it fetches sounds from your PC and mixes it digitally for an improved spatial sound.
While this doesn’t achieve the sound quality of the main Dolby Atmos technology (via receiver), it makes up for an improved positional sound experience with every headset, headphones or earbuds. It’s extremely helpful for games because it makes it easier to pinpoint where the sounds are coming from.
If you decide to give Dolby Atmos a try, you’ll need to download a dedicated app from the Windows Store first. Whether you already have an Atmos-enabled home theater or you want to try our Dolby Atmos for Headphones, you’ll need to download Dolby Access first.
You can do this either by accessing the store link (here) or by right-clicking the sound icon in the bottom-right section of your taskbar and going to Spatial Sound > Dolby Atmos for Headphones.
Both methods will take you to the same Dolby Acess store listing. Once there, press the Get button to download Dolby Acess on your system. When the download is complete, follow the guide below to set up an Atmos-enabled home theater (if you already have the right equipment). If you want to try a piece of Atmos for free, follow the second guide to set up Dolby Atmos for headphones.
How to Set up a Dolby Atmos Home Theater on Windows 10
Unlike Dolby Atmos for headphones, you won’t need to purchase a subscription or opt for a trial in order to configure your Atmos-enabled home theater – it’s “enough” to buy the hardware. If you have the right hardware (Atmos receiver + PC with HDMI output), follow the guide below to enable Dolby Atmos for a home theater on Windows 10:
- Open the Dolby Access app and click the With my home theater box.
- Next, hit the Continue button at the first prompt and proceed to connect the HDMI cable from your home theater to your PC.
- Then, we need to make sure that the Atmos-enabled system is set as the default device. Do this by right-clicking on the sound icon (bottom-right corner) and select Playback Devices.
- Check whether the Atmos HDMI playback device is set as the default. If it’s not, select it and click the Set as Default button.
- Once you’ve set the Atmos-powered theater as the default, return to the Dolby Access app and click on Configure PC settings.
- Next, use the drop-down menu under Spatial sound format to select Dolby Atmos for home theater and hit Apply to confirm.
Note: If you don’t see a Dolby Atmos for home theater option, make sure your sound system has support for Dolby Atmos. If it has, double-check the HDMI connection. If necessary, unplug and repeat steps 3 and 4. - Finally, return to the Dolby Access App. Once the spatial sound in Windows 10 is set correctly, Dolby Access should automatically prompt you to calibrate your system.
Note: Keep in mind that the calibration steps are highly dependent on your home theater configuration. After you follow the on-screen calibration steps, Dolby Atmos will be enabled on Windows 10.
How to Set up a Dolby Atmos for Headphones on Windows 10
If you decide to try the inexpensive version of Dolby Atmos, you should now that the technology is not free. Well, actually it is, but just for 30 days. After the trial period, you’ll need to spend $15 to get the technology indefinitely. It’s unclear why Microsoft choose to integrate this technology with Windows 10, considering the fact that they released Sonic for Headphones at the same time – a technology almost identical to Dolby Atmos for headphones.
Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that Microsoft didn’t pay the full licensing fees for Dolby Headphones, so Windows users can’t use the technology for free. As a result, you can try Dolby Atmos for headphones for free only for a limited period of time (30-day trial). But the good news is the 30-day trial won’t require you to enter your credit card details.
If you decide to give it a try, follow the guide below to set up Dolby Atmos for headphones on Windows 10:
- Open the Dolby Access app and click the With my headphones box.
- Next, connect your headphones and select them from the menu to the right of the screen and click the Continue button. Upon hitting continue, the app will “check” for compatibilities issues between your headset and Dolby Atmos. But as some have pointed out, this has nothing to do with your headphones – this Atmos feature requires certain sound drivers that Windows 10 has by default. As long as you have Windows 10, every headset will be compatible, but the sound quality will obviously differ.
Note: If the headset is not already the default playback choice, you’ll need to right-click on the sound icon located on your taskbar (bottom-right corner) and select Playback Devices. Once there, make sure that it’s the default choice. If it’s not, select it and hit the Set as Default button.
- In the Dolby Access app, click the 30-trial button. You can also opt to buy it indefinitely.
Note: If the 30-day trial button is not available, you have already used the Dolby Access trial with this particular Microsoft account.
- If you opt for the 30-day trial, you’ll be presented with a Microsoft Store Window. Hit Get to agree with Microsoft’s ToS.
Note: This won’t automatically draw money from your credit card at the end of the trial period.
- Upon returning to the Dolby Access window, you will be prompted to download additional content for the app. Hit Okay and wait for the download to complete.
Note: If you are not prompted to install new content in the Dolby Access app, reboot your computer and open Dolby Access again.
- When the download is complete, you should see a new Configure PC settings button appearing. Click on it to open Speaker Properties.
- In Speaker Properties under the Spatial sound tab, use the drop-down menu below Spatial sound format to select Dolby Atmos for Headphones. Hit Apply to save the changes.
Note: You can also check the box next to Turn on 7.1 virtual surround sound. But keep in mind that it has the potential to create additional static noise, depending on the media you’re listening to.
That’s it, Dolby Atmos is now configured for your headphones. You can return to the Dolby Access app to experience a list of curated videos, encoded with the Atmos technology.
Note: Keep in mind that not all media content will see an improvement while this option is activated. In order to witness the improvements with the new positional awareness feature, try playing a game or watch a video that is configured to work with Dolby Atmos.
If you decide to disable Dolby Atmos for headphones while the trial is still active, simply right-click on your sound icon (bottom-right corner) and set the Spatial Sound to Off.
Microsoft’s Free Alternative
Along with support for Dolby Atmos, Microsoft also implemented a built-in alternative to Dolby Atmos for headphones in the Creator’s Update. Technology-wise, Windows Sonic for Headphones does roughly the same thing as Atmos, but some argue it’s somewhat inferior to the Dolby alternative. But since audio quality can be very subjective, we won’t jump the fence and designate a clear winner in the DSP department.
To enable Windows Sonic for Headphones, move over to the bottom-right section of the taskbar and right-click on the sound icon. From there go to Spatial Sound and click on Windows Sonic for Headphones.
