All new MPEG-H Renderer now part of Pro Tools—personalized sound for everyone

With the 2026.4 release, Pro Tools introduces an all-new, native implementation of MPEG-H Audio. Building on the earlier Plugin for MPEG-H Authoring, this new integration brings immersive, interactive, and personalized audio capabilities directly into one of the industry’s most widely used digital audio workstations. Users can now import, create and monitor MPEG-H content natively within Pro Tools, streamlining workflows and unlocking new creative possibilities for Next-Generation Audio production. This page outlines the key features of the integration, provides an overview of MPEG-H Audio, and includes a quick start guide along with links to additional resources.

The MPEG-H Renderer plugin for Pro Tools, developed by Fraunhofer IIS in close collaboration with Avid, is now available free of charge to all Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate subscribers and customers with active perpetual upgrade plans. It introduces a new, fully native implementation of MPEG-H Audio, enabling content creators to produce immersive and personalized audio experiences directly within their familiar production environment. Sound elements such as vocals, dialogue, chorus, and instruments can be placed and controlled in a three-dimensional space, directly from the new Pro Tools Immersive Panner allowing creators to accurately match their artistic intent.

If you’re new to Pro Tools, you can learn more and download the free 30-day trial here.

Beyond immersion, MPEG-H Audio enables a wide range of personalization features to be defined during production. These include selectable immersive mixes, multiple languages, dialogue enhancement, and user-controlled spatial audio positioning—giving audiences new ways to engage with content while ensuring that creative intent remains fully preserved. In this way, MPEG-H transforms traditional fixed mixes into flexible, user-driven experiences. Creators retain full control by defining which elements remain fixed and which can be personalized, supporting features such as dialogue control, accessibility enhancements, and alternative audio experiences.

These capabilities are powered by the natively integrated MPEG-H Renderer, which combines the functionality of the previous MPEG-H plugin with a range of new features!

Integration features:

• Built-in Setup Assistant for automatic configuration of tracks, routing, and scene setup for most common MPEG-H productions
• Seamless routing and creation of beds (e.g., 2.0, 5.1) and audio objects directly from track outputs
• New Pro Tools Immersive Panner, fully integrated with MPEG-H for seamless control and automation
• Adaptive Background Attenuation (ABA) for improved dialogue clarity through automated volume automation process
• Advanced dynamic metadata handling, including object positioning and metadata-driven ducking
• Import and export of MPEG-H master formats (MPEG-H Production Format, MPEG-H BWF/ADM, MPEG-H MXF/S-ADM)
• Live loudness metering and offline loudness measurement for layouts ranging from mono up to immersive layouts such as 7.1+4H
• Support of offline bounce, triggered through bounce mix dialog
• Channel-based rendering and export workflows with export queue

A detailed deep dive into all features and functionalities of the MPEG-H Renderer can be found in the “What’s New in Pro Tools 2026.4” guide and release notes here. For those new to MPEG-H Audio, the following sections provide a brief overview of the technology and highlight real-world applications of Next-Generation audio.

What is MPEG-H audio?

MPEG-H Audio delivers a next-generation listening experience by enabling immersive audio and user interactivity while remaining faithful to the producer’s creative vision. Creators can offer a wide range of personalization features that allow audiences to tailor the audio experience to their preferences. These include fully adjustable dialogue levels, customizable audio description, multi-language program selection, and interactive spatial audio source positioning.

These personalization and interactivity features are enabled through metadata authoring, which can now be created directly within Pro Tools. All information is delivered through a single audio bitstream, which is decoded and rendered by the receiving consumer device. MPEG-H Audio has been carefully designed to support both broadcasting and video-on-demand (VoD) applications.

Broadcasters and streaming providers in Brazil, Japan, and South Korea already rely on MPEG-H Audio for their services. In Brazil, the next-generation DTV+ broadcast system features MPEG-H as its sole audio system, a decision formalized by the government in August 2025, with commercial rollout expected in time for the 2026 World Cup. In Japan, the next-generation broadcast system has been approved by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) in March 2025. It supports 4K/8K broadcasting and immersive audio formats up, powered by MPEG-H. South Korea became the first country to launch regular UHD TV broadcast with immersive and interactive audio using MPEG-H Audio in May 2017.

Today, immersive MPEG-H Audio content is supported across a wide range of consumer devices, including selected set-top boxes, television sets, audio/video receivers (AVRs), mobile devices, and soundbars. Fraunhofer IIS also facilitates manufacturers and content creators to implement MPEG-H Audio through their respective trademark programs.

The object-based MPEG-H Audio format enables audiences to interact with content by configuring multiple personalization parameters directly from a Pro Tools session. Producers can define different mixes such as “crowd” and “stage” perspectives or adjust individual elements such as enhancing dialogue for improved clarity.

The MPEG-H scene you author is rendered on the playback device which has information about the individual listening environment, ensuring accurate and personalized reproduction of your creative vision.

As MPEG-H Audio continues to gain global momentum, production tools are becoming more accessible than ever. Producers and content creators are encouraged to explore and experiment with immersive and interactive audio workflows.

Getting started with MPEG-H audio

The MPEG-H Renderer is available free for all Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate customers on an active monthly or annual subscription or perpetual license with current Upgrade plan. You can find and install the renderer through Avid Link or via your Avid Account. The installer also provides you with Pro Tools-specific templates to get you up and running quickly.

Once you have downloaded and installed the renderer, check out some of our tutorials below.

Demo content is also available to help you get started and can be downloaded here.

You can find more information on MPEG-H Audio and extended tutorials at mpegh.com.
Customers requiring support should contact Fraunhofer IIS here.

Installing the MPEG-H Renderer

The MPEG-H Renderer must be installed to be available in Pro Tools.

1. Download the installer from Avid Link or your online MyAvid products page.
2. Unzip the installer and launch it.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

The following components are installed:

• MPEG-H Renderer
• Pro Tools Session templates

Further installation and setup guidelines are found in the manual.

Continuing to use the legacy plugin for MPEG-H authoring in Pro Tools 2026.4 and later

For users who are unable to upgrade to the latest version, the deprecated MPEG-H Authoring Plugin is still available for download here.

Please note that this legacy plugin is no longer actively supported, and no further updates, bug fixes, or technical assistance can be provided.