Fairlight · Surround · Immersive Audio
Surround and immersive audio in Fairlight
Understand the difference between normal multichannel mastering and DaVinci Resolve Studio's immersive 3D workflow. Fairlight can handle mono, stereo and large channel-based formats; Studio adds 3D panning, Space View, B-Chain monitoring, object-based formats, Dolby Atmos workflows and fifth-order Ambisonics.
From channel-based surround to object-based 3D sound
Fairlight supports mono, stereo and multichannel mastering. Blackmagic explicitly reserves the immersive 3D panner / Space View workflow for DaVinci Resolve Studio.
1. Start with the distinction
Multichannel surround and immersive 3D are related, but not the same workflow
Blackmagic's current Fairlight documentation describes multi-format mastering from mono and stereo through 5.1, 7.1 and 22.2. Channel mapping can also be changed at clip and track level, and adaptive tracks support non-standard layouts up to 36 channels.
The immersive 3D spatial workflow is explicitly described as a DaVinci Resolve Studio capability. That is where 3D panning, Space View and B-Chain monitoring belong. This page keeps those boundaries visible instead of presenting every surround feature as Studio-only or every 3D feature as available in Free.
Separate multichannel mastering from Studio-only immersive 3D
2. Channel-based surround
Build the routing and channel map before thinking about 3D objects
5.1 / 7.1
Standard multichannel layouts can be edited, routed and delivered from Fairlight; channel mapping helps isolate or reorganize channels from multichannel clips.
22.2
Blackmagic lists 22.2 among Fairlight's mastering/delivery formats in the current product documentation.
Adaptive tracks
For non-standard layouts, Fairlight supports adaptive tracks with up to 36 channels.
FlexBus
Use the routing concepts from the Mixer/Bus page to create predictable multichannel paths instead of treating surround as only a panner problem.
3. Live channel panner
Resolve 21 exposes a channel-based surround field before immersive 3D enters the picture
The supplied live interface shows C, L, R, Ls and Rs positions in a circular speaker field. That view belongs to channel-based spatial placement and should not be confused with Studio's separate immersive 3D panner workflow.
The capture does not expose an active pan point or LFE control, so those states are intentionally not inferred. The dedicated Panner page explains the visible field, routing relationship and automation in detail.
Resolve 21 · Metering
Surround Analyzer is part of the multichannel metering toolkit
The live Metering submenu confirms Surround Analyzer alongside the normal Meter, Phase Meter, Loudness Meter and Frequency Analyzer. Surround Analyzer belongs with multichannel work because its purpose is spatial diagnostics that ordinary L/R meters cannot provide.
Use the concept when a multichannel mix needs spatial diagnostics that ordinary L/R bars cannot provide. Exact display modes and controls are intentionally not inferred from the submenu screenshot.
4. Studio · spatial panning
Place sounds in 3D space and automate their movement
Blackmagic's current Fairlight page instructs Studio users to choose a 3D audio format in the Fairlight project preferences, create the required tracks and buses, then open the 3D panner from the mixer pan area. Sounds can be positioned and automated through 3D space.
Space View visualizes several labeled sound objects together, including active levels, while B-Chain controls are provided for configuring and connecting a 3D speaker monitoring system.
Position objects, automate movement and watch them in Space View
Place a sound object in height, width and depth.
Move the object through 3D space over time.
See several labeled objects and their levels together.
Configure monitoring paths for a 3D speaker system.
5. Studio · Atmos and interchange
Object-based delivery adds metadata and renderer workflows beyond channel routing
Blackmagic's current Studio documentation lists immersive support for IAB and ADM import/export, object-based formats such as Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H, and Ambisonics up to fifth order. Dolby Atmos mastering supports 3D channels and buses from 5.1.2 through 9.1.6.
Studio can also import Atmos master files in .damf, .wav and .mxf for remixing, reconstructing bed/object tracks and panning metadata, then export ADM or IMF IAB deliverables.
Advanced immersive delivery is a separate professional layer
Dolby Atmos 3D channels and buses
Immersive export/interchange
Atmos master import for remixing
Spherical immersive audio support
Blackmagic's current Studio documentation explicitly lists IAB/ADM import and export, Dolby Atmos production and remixing, 3D buses from 5.1.2 to 9.1.6 and Ambisonics up to fifth order.
Current Fairlight documentation is the source for multi-format mastering, 5.1/7.1/22.2 output, channel mapping and adaptive tracks up to 36 channels. Current DaVinci Resolve Studio documentation is the source for immersive 3D panning, Space View, B-Chain monitoring, IAB/ADM, Dolby Atmos workflows, 3D buses from 5.1.2 to 9.1.6 and fifth-order Ambisonics.