Sometimes The Truth Is Not Enough: Recording an Audiobook in Dolby Atmos 360

Gatwick Production Studios

The Treehouse

As I prepare to release my upcoming novel and audiobook, Sometimes the Truth Is Not Enough, I wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at how—and why—I chose to record the audiobook in full Dolby Atmos 360 spatial audio.

This project was never going to be a traditional one. From the moment I started thinking about how the story should sound, I knew that standard stereo simply wouldn’t do justice to the world, the movement, and the emotional intensity of the narrative. I wanted listeners to feel inside the story, not just listen to it.

Why Spatial Audio?

The main reason I committed to recording the audiobook in surround sound is simple: immersion. Spatial audio allows sound to exist all around the listener — above, below, behind, and in front — creating a cinematic experience that feels alive.

This choice was cemented when I spent time at Gatwick Production Studios in Crawley, home to The Treehouse, a premier Dolby Atmos studio equipped with a stunning 9.1.4 Genelec Atmos Mastering Monitor System. The moment I heard what Atmos could do in that space, I was hooked. There was no going back to old-fashioned stereo.

For action sequences in particular, the ability to pan sound in full 360 degrees is a complete game-changer. Movement, tension, and environment suddenly become tangible. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend checking the studio out — I guarantee you’ll be blown away.

👉 https://gatwickproductionstudios.com

The Microphones: Capturing the World in 3D

To achieve true spatial realism, I used a combination of ambisonic and binaural microphones, each chosen for specific recording scenarios.

The Sennheiser AMBEO VR is an exceptionally powerful and sensitive ambisonic microphone. It excels at capturing full 360-degree sound fields, making it ideal for controlled environments and highly detailed spatial imaging.

That sensitivity, however, comes with a trade-off: any small movement, a subtle shift in position, is permanently baked into the recording. The solution is simple but essential: use a stand. I also found recording in public spaces, such as cafés, to be challenging. The AMBEO’s size tends to attract attention, and its sensitivity makes it less forgiving in unpredictable environments. Still, with extra care, the results are worth it — the sound quality is genuinely astounding.

For these recordings, the AMBEO was paired with a Zoom F8n Pro, an 8-channel, 10-track field recorder. It’s a fantastic piece of kit: rock-solid, professional, and extremely capable. That said, it’s surprisingly heavy and absolutely chews through batteries. Carry a power supply with you.

MS-TFB-2-MKII In-Ear Binaural Microphones

For mobility and discretion, I relied heavily on the MS-TFB-2-MKII ultra-low-noise in-ear binaural microphones with XLR connections.

These mics are incredibly easy to use and deliver excellent results. They look just like regular headphones, which makes them perfect for roaming recordings and less intrusive sound gathering. Sitting in a café, walking through spaces, or capturing real-world ambience became far more natural and practical with these in-ear mics.

For these recordings, I used a Zoom N4, which is very light, extremely reliable, and a pleasure to work with in the field. Like the F8n Pro, it records to SD cards, meaning storage was never an issue.

Blending Technology and Storytelling

Every piece of equipment I chose served the story. This wasn’t about tech for tech’s sake—it was about using the right tools to pull listeners deeper into the narrative of Sometimes The Truth Is Not Enough.

Dolby Atmos 360 allows sound to become part of the storytelling itself. Environments breathe, action moves around you, and quiet moments feel intimate and close. It’s an audiobook experience designed not just to be heard but to be felt.

I can’t wait to share the finished audiobook with you and let you experience the story the way it was meant to be experienced—fully immersive, spatial, and uncompromising.

Stay tuned for the release of Sometimes The Truth Is Not Enough.