BWAV ADM Creation Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

This article outlines best practices for creating a BWAV ADM file as a 5.1 or Atmos sound mix streaming deliverable for Netflix. It focuses on workflows using Dolby Atmos Renderer and Pro Tools (2023.12 or newer). Netflix accepts sound mix delivery via BWAV ADM from any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) capable of producing a standards-compliant BWAV ADM file.

While this article provides examples, it does not cover every possible stem, bed and object configuration. When mixing in Atmos, beds and objects can be configured in any channel width and with any level of content separation. However, they must always be Group labeled as Dialogue, Music, Effects or Narration. See the appendix for a full list of valid Group labels.

Delivering sound mixes via BWAV ADM enables stem creation in the Netflix platform, reducing the file creation burden for sound facilities. This workflow option is preferred but is not required.

PRO TOOLS 5.1 SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION FROM STEMS

This workflow requires Pro Tools 2023.5 or newer. When summed, 5.1 mix stems must be equal to the intended 5.1 printmaster. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

Ensure “Internal Renderer” is selected in the “I/O Setup” dialogue and configure 3x 5.1 beds labeled as “Dialogue,” “Music,” “Effects” and (as needed) “Narration”
Ensure 5.1 stems are routed to 5.1 beds on the stem tracks
Under “File,” select “Bounce Mix”
Select “WAV (Dolby Atmos)” in the File Type drop-down menu.
Set a logical file name for the resulting BWAV ADM Printmaster.
1. Example: chefs_table_s02e02_v04_PM_Nearfield_6ch_ADM_48k_24b_23976.wav
Check the “Offline” box in the lower left corner and click “Bounce” to render the file

AVID PRO TOOLS ATMOS SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

This workflow requires Pro Tools 2023.5 or newer. Atmos beds and objects, when summed, must include all required content to represent the intended Atmos printmaster. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

Ensure “Internal Renderer” is selected in the “I/O Setup” menu “Dolby Atmos” tab and configure beds and objects as “Dialogue,” “Music,” “Effects” and (as needed) “Narration”. See the appendix for a full list of valid Group labels.

Ensure tracks are assigned to beds and objects matching the required channel width. In this example, beds are 7.1.2 and objects are mono.

Under “File,” select “Bounce Mix”
Select “WAV (Dolby Atmos)” in the File Type drop-down menu.
Set a logical file name for the resulting BWAV ADM Printmaster
1. Example: chefs_table_s02e02_v04_PM_Nearfield_Atmos_ADM_48k_24b_23976.wav
Check the “Offline” box in the lower left corner and click “Bounce” to render the file

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER 5.1 SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

5.1 mix stems, when summed, must include all required content to represent the intended 5.1 printmaster. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

Configure the DAW of choice to pass the following data as outlined in the Dolby Atmos Renderer User’s Guide
1. Audio via Dolby Audio Bridge
2. Sync via Dolby LTC Generator
3. Atmos Metadata via DAW IP settings

In the “Input Configuration” Menu, define 3x 5.1 beds & no objects
Select Group labels for “Dialog,” “Music,” “Effects,” and (as needed) “Narration”. See the appendix for a full list of valid Group labels.

Record the .atmos file precisely in real time by playing the sound mix from the DAW and leveraging the “Record In/Out” function on the main screen

From the “File” menu, select “Export Audio” -> “ADM BWF”

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER ATMOS SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

Atmos beds and objects, when summed, must include all required content to represent the intended Atmos printmaster. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

Configure the DAW of choice to pass the following data as outlined in the Dolby Atmos Renderer User’s Guide
1. Audio via Dolby Audio Bridge
2. Sync via Dolby LTC Generator
3. Atmos Metadata via DAW IP settings

In the “Input Configuration” Menu, define beds & objects as needed
Select pre-defined Group labels for “Dialog,” “Music,” “Effects,” and (as needed) “Narration”

Record the .atmos file precisely in real time by playing the sound mix from the DAW and leveraging the “Record In/Out” function on the main screen

From the “File” menu, select “Export Audio” -> “ADM BWF”

APPENDIX: RECOGNIZED GROUP LABELS

Group labels are not case sensitive. This list is current as of Aug 28, 2024

Labels Recognized as Dialogue:

"adr object", "aud", "audience", "d", "dia", "dia group", "dial", "dial bed", "dial objects", "dialog", "dialog bed", "dialog obj", "dialog objects", "dialogue", "dials", "dx", "dx adr bed", "dx bed", "dx object", "dx objects", "foreign grp", "frn", "group", "group bed", "group obj", "grp", "grp bed", "grp object", "m&e option", "opt 1", "opt 2", "opt 3", "opt a", "opt b", "opt1", "opt2", "option", "optional a", "optional b", "optional dialog 1 (bg)", "optional dialog 2 (crowd walla)", "optional dialog 3 (tv radios)", "optionals", "optionals 2", "vocal", "vox", "walla", "walla bg dials", "odx bed 71", "ogrp bed 71", "odx obj", "ogrp obj", "opt", "opt (dx)", "opt_walla", "opta", "optb", "optc", "optd", "diastem", "dialog option", "dialogue option", "optional", "narr", "dialog_option 1", "dialog option 2", "dialog option 3", "dialog option 1", "fdialstem", "crwd obj m", "crwd obj st", "dx_obj", "optional dialog", "interviews", "option 1", "option 2", "option 3", "dx obj", "dx_bed", "dialogue optionals", "dialog optionals", "opt dialog", "opt a efforts", "opt c foreign", "opt d archive", "opt e walla", "primary", "st37741wla", "dub mix", "secondary audio program", "st37741sap", "st37741prm", "dx group", "alternate language audio", "st37741dx", "group adr", "st37741grp", "optional dialogue", "lang", "crowds", "dia obj", "bed dia", "cwd", "cw bed"

Labels Recognized as Music:

"instrumental music", "m", "mus", "music", "music bed", "music obj", "music objects", "mx", "mx bed", "mx group", "mx object", "mx objects", "omx bed 71", "omx obj", "mxstem", "opt (mx vox)", "music option", "vocals", "music vox", "mx obj", "mx_bed", "opt b song", "st37741voc", "st37741mx", "song", "vocal", "voc", "mx vox"

Labels Recognized as Effects:

"amb", "backgrounds", "bg", "bg bed", "bg obj", "bg object", "bg2", "bgfxfol", "bgs", "e", "effects", "efx", "fly", "fo bed", "fo", "fol", "fol bed", "foley", "foley bed", "fx", "fx bed", "fx group", "fx obj", "fx object", "fx objects", "hfx", "se", "spots", "sync fx", "ofx bed 71", "obg bed 71", "ofol bed 71", "ofx obj", "obg obj", "ofol obj", "ambience", "sfx", "fx obj m", "fx obj st", "fxstem", "folstem", "crowd", "bg obj m", "bg obj st", "fx_bed", "fo", "bg group", "st37741ffx", "st37741fx", "fol group", "st37741fol", "ffx", "fl", "crowds", "st37741bg", "ambiences", "st37741crd", "nat", "nat sound", "filled fx", "fffx", "cx bed", "effect", "fx_foley", "atmos", "fx+bg", "sfx bed", "sfx object", "pfx", "background", "ambiance", "sfx obj"

Labels Recognized as Narration:

"narration", "vo", "narr", "nar", "vo narration", "voice over", "st37741nar", "descriptive video", "audio description", "st37741dv"