Logic/Dolby Atmos Setup that (finally) works for me

[88James88]

While setting up a 5.1.2 speaker Dolby Atmos setup using Logic on an M1 mac mini and a Presonus 1824c 8 output interface,
I was having issues not hearing audio from my two Top speakers.  Even though I saw signal in the surround level meter
and the audio from the Mac’s Audio/Midi speaker configuration test came through loud and clear.

Finally got things working for me.
Thought my notes might help someone else using an 1824c or another 8 output interface and wanting to get into Logic/Dolby Atmos mixing.

In Presonus Universal Control, click on 
the image of the interface then click the Mixer Bypass button. (It’ll turn blue.)

In Mac’s Audio Midi
Choose 18 channel 
24 bit 48K
Output Speaker configuration Choose Surround 7.1.4 (even though I have 5.1.2).
Outputs
1 Left 2 Right 3 Center 4 LFE
5 Left Surround 6 Right Surround
7 top left front
8 top right front

In all other setups, don’t use 7 or 8 anywhere else.
Populate all other speakers with channels not being used. In my case 9 and above.

Logic Pro
In the devices tab set buffer to 512 or 1024.

Then go to File - Project settings - Audio - spatial audio
.
Make sure it’s turned from off to Dolby Atmos.
24 bit 48K 24 fps

I/O
 settings
Go to Logic pro - settings - Audio - I/O assignments

Surround = 7.1.4

Outputs

1 Left 2 Right 3 Center 4 LFE
5 L surround 6 R surround
7 L top 8 R top
L mid off R mid off (off is 3 dashes)
Surround off
L top Mid off R top mid off
L top surround off R top surround off

I/O Inputs set as same.

IMPORTANT

The other speaker configs need to not use outputs 7 and 8 for anything else.
I can assign either nothing (3 dashes) or outputs 9-18 on
L & R mid, Surround, L & R Top mid and L & R top surround.
This is what was making me unable to hear the top speakers. In the other formats
(like 5.1.2), I changed 7 & 8 to other outputs. For some reason that caused the issue.

Atmos setup
File - project settings – audio.
 Spatial audio select Dolby Atmos. It will make a 7.1.2 project.


Then click on the Atmos plugin that populated in the Master channel strip.
In monitoring, select 7.1.4 when using speakers. (Even with my 5.1.2 speaker setup.)

Select Binaural when using EarPods.

Extra note: In each track’s channel-strip,
make sure the input reflects the type of
regions that will be on it. Mono, Stereo or Surround.
 If I don’t, panning with be weird.

Hope this helps someone else. I've certainly received a lot of help fro you.
James Gordon

Edited September 30, 2023 by 88James88
grammer

[Atlas007]

Thanx for sharing your experience!

[SettleTheScore]

@88James88 If you'd like to check your Atmos mix once you've bounced it from Logic, what player do you use?