The Dubai Press Club (DPC), in collaboration with Dolby Laboratories, organised a workshop titled ‘Immersive podcasting in Dolby Atmos’ focused on boosting the capabilities of podcast creators to enhance their storytelling for listeners through Dolby Atmos®immersive audio. The initiative is part of DPC’s efforts aimed at fostering the growth of the podcasting industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Dolby has been working with a wide range of podcast creators in a multitude of genres who leverage Dolby Atmos to enhance their storytelling for listeners. Podcasts, Spoken Word Narratives, and Audiobooks are currently being created in Dolby Atmos by many of the world’s leading providers of audio-first. Delivering premium content consistently, Anghami, the top regional service in MENA has been distributing both Dolby Atmos Music and podcasts in Dolby Atmos on their platform for paid subscribers since 2021.

With the ability to precisely place and move sounds in three dimensions, Dolby Atmos brings greater detail, clarity, and depth to the listening experience. It allows for crisper detail with the listener able to distinguish between different background sounds. Regardless of genre, Dolby Atmos can imbue a greater sense of realism, enabling audiences to visually grasp scenes with just audio cues.

Dr. Maitha bint Issa Buhumaid, Director of Dubai Press Club and Director of Strategic Media Affairs at the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), said: “Workshops such as this help podcasters create more compelling experiences for their audiences by shedding light on key advancements in the field of audio content creation and the vital elements of success in this evolving media field. The initiative reflects the Dubai Press Club’s commitment to nurturing the expertise of audio storytellers and enabling them to share their stories more effectively. Such efforts also encourage and empower emerging talents to aspire for excellence in the world of podcasting and audio narratives specifically in the Arabic podcasts.”

Dr. Buhumaid emphasised the Dubai Press Club’s continuous endeavours to organise training workshops throughout the year, aimed at enhancing excellence in the region’s podcasting industry. Additionally, she underscored Dubai’s growing significance as a prominent media hub and a focal point for the advancement of the audio content industry.

Karan Grover, Senior Director India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), Dolby, said: “Collaborating with the Dubai Press Club, we embark on a transformative journey to empower podcasters in the MENA region, unravelling the dynamic world of Dolby Atmos. Together, we aim to illuminate and elevate the storytelling experience, enabling creators to craft immersive narratives that resonate across dimensions, enriching the auditory landscape for audiences worldwide.”

The workshop took participants through various stages of the podcast creation process,as well as criteria for successfully connecting with audiences in the light of acoustic experiences using Dolby Atmos to create a spectacular listening experience. The key factors that go towards the making of a successful voice was among other topics that featured during the discussions.