Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that it is teaming with both Dolby Laboratories and Barco to mix The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the next chapter in the story of Peter Parker, in both the Auro 11.1 system and the Dolby Atmos cinema sound system, to deliver a more natural and realistic soundtrack that moves sound around and above audiences. These technologies open new possibilities to enhance storytelling through sound, giving the moviegoer a more immersive, exciting and compelling experience.
The film will be released in theaters internationally April 16, and domestically on May 2.
The studio has also converted its landmark William Holden Theater to support both technologies for mixing. The studio teamed with both Dolby and Barco to install a 56-speaker system and related equipment that is capable of mixing and playing both formats. The facility combines state-of-the-art audio technologies with the latest projection technology, including 4K digital projection and 3D capabilities.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Barco and Dolby, both to convert the William Holden Theater and to incorporate these innovative technologies into The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures. “We are always looking for ways to offer greater definition and further enhance the moviegoing experience. These technologies are one more way that we offer consumers a richer and unique theatrical experience.”
Mixers Paul Massey and David Giammarco will be creating both the Dolby Atmos and Auro 11.1 mixes.
Auro 11.1 by Barco was developed by Auro Technologies. It is designed along three layers of sound (traditional surround sound, with height and overhead layers). Thanks to this layered approach, the technology not only enables sound mixers to move objects around in space, it also allows them to reproduce the immersive aspects of a film soundtrack in a more natural way.
Dolby Atmos gives filmmakers the creative freedom to easily place or move sounds anywhere in the movie theatre, even overhead, with object-based audio to create a lifelike, virtual reality of sound.