Sampling rate / bit depth
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Posted on Dec 30, 2006 08:16 pm
Herb Utsmelz
Ne'er ate 'er
Member Since: Apr 05, 2006
OK, I need to have this explained to me.
Why do so many audio producers record at 24 bits and 96 kHz (or higher) when recording for CD, when they know that they will have to downsample to 44.1 kHz and convert to 16 bit before putting it on CD? This has never made sense to me. Is it because of the perception that the higher numbers guarantee higher initial quality? Everything I've read suggests otherwise.
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Dec 30, 2006 08:28 pm To me, it's simply a matter of the original source being as high of a resolution as possible. My digital photos are 300 dpi, even if I use them on the web they are downsized to 72 dpi...smae with audio. If I go back later to remix or whatever, I know I am working with the highest possible quality version available.
Also, DVD standards are much higher resolution, surround sound is 24/96 I believe (memory fails) so if one is recording for a film sound track or whatever, higher resolution is necessary.
Dec 30, 2006 08:51 pm Sure, but when recording for CD, wouldn't an initial recording at 44.1 and 16 bits do a better job in the final result as one that had to go through changes?
Digital conversion is supposed to be perfect, but I know better.
Dec 30, 2006 08:57 pm The effects processing, mixing and all that stuff bastardizes the file just the same. Effects processing requires lots of math, and extra decimal points are just thrown out and the gaps are filled in with noize (dithering).
Typically a final CD is really only 13 bits or so in the truest sense of the word.
Dec 30, 2006 09:25 pm Thanks for the info. Very astute.
Thanks also for the excuse to get a bigger hard drive. My wife will love it.
H.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 30, 2006 10:01 pm Yep, wifes like that stuff don't they. And dB is correct on the reason for using say 24/96. It does give a much finer bit of data to work with. In my case when I am editing loops and or using DSP processing on the audio it does make a huge difference in being able to work in much finer detail. I will use 32 bit whenever I can as my interface's will all allow that. And trust me, when I'm editing some really tweaky samples for loops and such those extra sample's per second in the wave view do make a huge difference in being able to do very detailed work.
Dec 30, 2006 11:45 pm OK, next question. I'm using Adobe Audition. What is 32 bit "float", and is it a better alternative to 16 bit? I have no 24 bit option.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 31, 2006 12:02 am 32 bit float refers to the way it processes information. Some CPU's cannot handle 32 bit floating point processing so the option to turn it off is there in almost any application for recording. So if you have a good PC, which I believe you do then turn it on. It allows for a bit faster and more efficient processing of the audio and such.
Dec 31, 2006 12:07 am Many thanks for the useful help. You guys ROCK.
And I could still use a Neumann U87.
