Gutbucket:
I'm sympathetic to what you're saying. If I understand correctly, you're saying the following: SD decided not to implement dither when writing the 24bit data, based on the assumption that most users would be able to get decent levels so as to obviate the need for it. You, however, argue that adding the dither wouldn't have
hurt, and because it
could have helped (for example when people
don't in fact get decent levels- precisely kind of situation exaggerated in the graphic comparisons posted above) they should have implemented dither in the first place. Having not done so, however, you feel that it's wrong to market the 32bit float as a solution to a self-implemented problem. Correct?
On the other hand, I'm
also sympathetic to SD. Do any of SD's competitors implement dithering of 24bit signals? Sonosax? Zoom? Tascam? There must be
some cost, in time or money, to implement the dither! They made the decision not to implement dither based on the
reasonable assumption, that normal users would adjust gain to get decent levels. That doesn't seem so far fetched to
me, but, then again, I'm a religion professor, not an engineer.
My read of all of this is as follows: Long after making the 24bit no dither decision, SD decided to tweak the product (version II) to allow for a novel 32bit float option, which
just so happens to have a side effect of solving the very problem they decided not to anticipate initially. So the marketers decide to run with it, saying, essentially, "look at us, our gear solves even very remote problems." Given the outright
bullshit that much of their competition employs, I don't agree with giving them crap for it. I too get excited when I outsmart myself, and realize after the fact that my decisions were even better than I thought they were before I did what I did. (Buying extra toilet paper when it was on sale comes immediately to mind).
They're not
lying. It actually
does make sense to use the 32bit float option, unless you need
endless recoding time, and thus can't afford the large file sizes 32bit float creates.
I have to say, my interest is peaked. I'm really tempted to sell my mixpre6 (make an offer tapirs!!!!) and I'll get the new one for not much money. I would go to a show, set up my gear with 32bit float (@ 48khz because I can't hear the difference with 96 or 192 anyway), seal the bag, and stash it under my seat. When the lights go down I'd press record through the wingman app, and press stop (or not) at set break. Foolproof, no need to look at or even expose my bag at all during the show.
I remember clearly making the move from cassette to DAT, and realizing that I never ever had to worry about a tape flip again. This seems like a step forward in a similar way, never having to worry about levels.
Then again, having run the Mixpre6 for a few years, it's really easy to guess the ballpark gain setting needed, and 24bit files are likely more than enough, given the noise floor at a rock concert, and I'm already really happy with both the product and the tech support....