Need Help Playing Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Video Files Via Macbook Pro...

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I have a Mid 2015 15" Macbook Pro running MacOS Mojave. I also have a Home Theatre System set up for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Object Based Surround Sound & a 4K TV.

The various files that are encoded with Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital & Dolby Digital Plus and DTS:X (some also with 4K Video) & I need to be able to play them via a platform to my Home Cinema System are in the following formats:

Video:
.mkv
.m2ts
.ts
.vob

Music:
.mp4

As my Mac is 2015, I understand that sadly, only Mac's from 2018 onwards can play Atmos via Quicktime? Also VLC on my older Mac will also not work either. Apparently, the PC version of VLC works fine but alas, I only have a Mac.

I understand the files might possibly be playable via a Blu-Ray player which I have but it is quite old so I am not sure if it meets the format standards - please see below screen-shots of supported files & standards from my AV Receiver & Blu-ray player to help determine.

In view of this, can anyone please offer me some possible solutions? Is there some third party app apart from VLC that can play the files I need when hooked up to my AV Receiver via my Mac or other viable options please?

Thank You!

AV Receiver:

Blu-Ray Player Formats & Standards:

 

[HDFan]

the various files that are encoded with Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital & Dolby Digital Plus and DTS:X (some also with 4K Video) & I need to be able to play them via a platform to my Home Cinema System are in the following formats:

The major problem I see is at the "playing" end. There are a number of apps that allow you to play most of those files on your Mac but they require support at the playing end. The best option is if you have a media player, such as an Apple TV or a Shield TV which allow you to stream the video via a server (Plex) or via SMB (Infuse).

Without those options capabilities depend on your TV or receiver. I have a Plex player on my TV and can airplay via several methods to my receiver. Atmos support evidently is available with AirPlay 2.

 

[Bazzy]

The major problem I see is at the "playing" end. There are a number of apps that allow you to play most of those files on your Mac but they require support at the playing end. The best option is if you have a media player, such as an Apple TV or a Shield TV which allow you to stream the video via a server (Plex) or via SMB (Infuse).

Without those options capabilities depend on your TV or receiver. I have a Plex player on my TV and can airplay via several methods to my receiver. Atmos support evidently is available with AirPlay 2.

Hi HDFan,

Thanks kindly for your input! I do not have a Apple TV or Shield TV - only a Amazon Firestick 4K Max - does that have Plex? ( I will have to try & learn what Plex is & how to use it!).

I will look if my TV can get the Plex app as well when able. How does Plex work may I ask - do you have to also have it on your rMBP as well as the TV or other device? Do you play it on your computer & then somehow stream it to the AV Receiver, other device, TV?

Also, when doing this, does it play sound with full Dolby Atmos/DTS:X please?

Many Thanks!

 

[HDFan]

There are two common players - Plex and Infuse. Plex is the most powerful but requires a Plex server on the media side. Infuse is less powerful, easy to use, and doesn't require a server. You can just use a SMB share with Infuse. Once setup you stream to your device using the GUI interface of the app which would be the firestick in your case. You might be able to stream audio to your receiver depending on its capabilities.

Looks as if Plex is available on the Fire TV.