If you are a cinema operator with a Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio rendering system you are likely playing DCPs labeled “Atmos”. You will soon be receiving DCPs that are labeled “IAB” instead of “Atmos” but, have no fear, your cinema will still be able to play them.

IAB stands for Immersive Audio Bitstream, a technical standard published by SMPTE in 2018, which is finally being adopted by the cinema industry. This means all movies that use the standardized method for Immersive Audio will use the term “IAB Compliant.”

IAB Compliant soundtracks will be labeled “IAB” in their Content Play List (CPL) and via the DCP Naming Convention. Cinema operators may be more familiar with seeing Atmos on their Media Players, Theater Management Systems (TMS) and other digital cinema equipment, however in the future, the label IAB will be used. If you want to take a deep dive into all things immersive audio and learn more about this pending change definitely check out C J Flynn’s well researched piece.