Immersive Audio and How to Achieve It

Da Vinci used to teach his students the skill of "seeing in" to a scene, even if it was a stucco wall -- so they could lose themselves in it and then release their imagination's free play capacities.

When I think of the requirements for "immersive" experience, I think of tonal and timbral accuracy -- an oboe sounding like an oboe. The notion that the gear must push me into immersion seems like a way of releasing myself from the necessary mental skill which Da Vinci was trying to teach his students. It's a way of game-ifying and Disney-fying the sound.

The best surround sound mixes I like are generally but not always good stereo mixes often they have extra dry vocals in the center than wetter vocals in L, R. The other instruments using the speakers to create points near the front and sides. If surround is used too much it brings attention to its self and looses flow. Surround can be much better than stereo but that is surprisingly rare. There will be a time when you’ll be able to set the acoustics, channels and everything else where you want it if you want to A I is about to change everything. I think Dolby Atmos will be a memory in about 3 or 4 years.

Most music I listen to was mixed in stereo, then upmixed by my processor into another more immersive format. Stereo sounds flat compared, not bad, but flat, it lacks that "third dimension". For Atmos I think Steve Genewick did an amazing job with the Miles Davis atmos mixes and giles martin did great with the beatles remixes. Revolver sounds sooo good, it is an interesting video he did on the remix process as well. Also I like the tracks that are being dropped mixed natively in atmos, not just remixed. I get an e-mail from dolby about new drops every few weeks.

Giles Martin on the Revolver atmos remix:

https://youtu.be/IUr_BmtbCjM

A properly set up stereo system can't be beat (in my experience). What I have heard in regards to surround sound was gimmicky, at best. It was not natural sound. I've never experienced sound coming from my sides or from behind unless I was turned away or around from the source. 

Might as well get one of these if you want to immerse yourself:

This Disney-fying the sound is not my cup-o-tea either.

All the best,
Nonoise

I cannot add anything to what has just been said by Hilde45 and nonoise and stuartk...

I prefer stereo acoustic because it is possible to have localization even listener envelopment ( immersiveness) without compromising TIMBRE ...

Kota1 buy the BACCH filters... It is the only DSP i would buy.... Because it is the only one who preserve room acoustic and timbre and your own head/ears profile measurement...And this filter cannot affect the timbre recorded of the album, it is explained mathematically why in Dr. Choueri article... Go and read... 😊