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Article Updated: February 20, 2025

INTRODUCTION

This article outlines best practices for creating a BWAV ADM file as a 5.1 or Atmos dub 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 labeled with group metadata as either Dialogue, Group, Music, Effects, Backgrounds, Foley or Narration. For Dubbing workflows, group labels such as Dubbed Dialogue and M&E are also acceptable. Only separation between Dubbed Dialogue and M&E elements is required. Small supplemental effects additions may be included in the Dubbed Dialogue stem or bed as required.

Delivering sound mixes via BWAV ADM enhances Netflix encoding efficiencies reducing the file creation burden for sound facilities. This workflow option is preferred but is not required.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

AVID PRO TOOLS 5.1 SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION FROM STEMS

AVID PRO TOOLS ATMOS SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER 5.1 SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION FROM STEMS

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER ATMOS SOUND MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

LINKS TO FURTHER RESOURCES

PRO TOOLS 5.1 DUB MIX BWAV ADM CREATION FROM STEMS

This workflow requires Pro Tools 2023.5 or newer. 5.1 dubbing elements, when summed, must include all required content to represent the intended 5.1 dub mix. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

  1. Ensure “Internal Renderer” is selected in the “I/O Setup” dialogue and configure 5.1 beds group labeled as needed. “Dubbed Dialogue” and “M&E” are common.
  2. Ensure 5.1 stems are routed to 5.1 beds on the stem tracks
  3. Under “File,” select “Bounce Mix”
  4. Select “WAV (Dolby Atmos)” in the File Type drop-down menu.
  5. Set a logical file name for the resulting BWAV ADM Printmaster.
    1. Example: 2036234_ChefsTable_Season2_Episode2_23976_en_6ch_ADM_48k24b_V1.wav
  6. Check the “Offline” box in the lower left corner and click “Bounce” to render the file

AVID PRO TOOLS ATMOS DUB 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 dub mix. Use True Peak limiters set to -2.3 dBFS for all material routed to the renderer.

  1. Ensure “Internal Renderer” is selected in the “I/O Setup” menu “Dolby Atmos” tab and configure beds and objects as “Dialog” or “Dubbed Dialogue,” “Music,” “Backgrounds”, “Effects”, “Foley”, and (as needed) “M&E”

  1. 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.

  1. Under “File,” select “Bounce Mix”
  2. Select “WAV (Dolby Atmos)” in the File Type drop-down menu.
  3. Set a logical file name for the resulting BWAV ADM Printmaster
    1. 2036234_ChefsTable_Season2_Episode2_23976_en_Atmos_ADM_48k24b_V1.wav
  4. Check the “Offline” box in the lower left corner and click “Bounce” to render the file

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER 5.1 DUB MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

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

  1. 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

  1. In the “Input Configuration” Menu, define 3x 5.1 beds & no objects
  2. Configure Group labels for 5.1 beds as needed. “Dubbed Dialogue” and “M&E” are common.

  1. 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

 

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

DOLBY ATMOS RENDERER ATMOS DUB MIX BWAV ADM CREATION

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

  1. 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

  1. In the “Input Configuration” Menu, define beds & objects as needed
  2. Configure beds and object Groups as “Dialog” or “Dubbed Dialogue,” “Music,” “Backgrounds”, “Effects”, “Foley”, and (as needed) “M&E”

  1. 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

 

  1. 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 Feb 3, 2025

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 4", "opt a", "opt b", "opt c", "opt d", "opt1", "opt2", "opt3", "opt4", "option", "optional a", "optional b", "optional c", "optional d", "optional dialog 1 (bg)", "optional dialog 2 (crowd walla)", "optional dialog 3 (tv radios)", "optionals", "optionals 2", "optionals 3", "optionals 4", "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", "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", "option 4", "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", "dia obj", "bed dia", "cwd", "cw bed", "dx stem", "opt stem", "frn stem", "optional object", "optional objects", "dubbed dialogue", "dubbed dialogue bed", "dubbed dialogue stem", "option1", "option2", "option3", "option4", "optional 1", "optional 2", "optional 3", "optional 4", "dub dx", "dub dx 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", "mx stem", "vox", "m&e", "m&e bed", "m&e stem", "comp", "mx score", "mx source"

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", "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", "fx stem", "cx", "fx ext"

Labels Recognized as Narration:

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

 

 

LINKS TO FURTHER RESOURCES

Dubbed Audio Resources

ADM Authoring in Nuendo

DaVinci Resolve 17 Training - Dolby Atmos Integration (video)

learning.dolby.com - Blackmagic Design Davinci Resolve Studio - Internal or external renderer

learning.dolby.com - Steinberg Nuendo - Internal or external renderer

 

 

CHANGE LOG

2025-02-3

First version

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