Topic: Tracking 24/96 files - help?

[Albix714]

Hi,

I did a 24/96 transfer from a cassette and here are the properties in Cool Edit:

File Type:   96000Hz, 32-bit, Stereo

Uncompressed Size:   442.56 MB (464,058,712 bytes)

File Format:   Windows PCM IEEE Float  (0.24 float type 3)

Size on Disk:   2.93 GB (3,148,413,316 bytes)

Length:   1:08:19.496
   393,551,659 samples

Now I want to track it. I open it with CD Wave Editor and get this message:

"Bad format - only PCM format supported"

Anyone have an any ideas?

Thanks, Alex

Also, do I need to dither the file down to 24 bit first?

[Brian Skalinder]

AA/CEP doesn't have a native 24-bit workspace like WaveLab or Audacity.  AA/CEP has two workspaces:  16-bit and 32-bit.  In both workspaces, AA/CEP performs all edits at 32-bit.  In the 16-bit workspace, AA/CEP performs the edits at 32-bit and then dithers back to 16-bit as part of the edit operation.  In the 32-bit workspace, it simply performs the edits at 32-bit and obviously does not need to dither as part of the edit operation.

Basically, if you <1> fed AA/CEP 24-bit data (which it sounds like you did), <2> did not perform any edits (dunno the answer to this one), and <3> saved the file as 32-bit (which seems the case given the filesize), AA/CEP will have padded the last 8 bits with zeroes.  Simply open the file up, and Save As, press the Options button, select 24-bit packed int (type 1, 24-bit), and untick the Enable Dithering box.  This should save your file as 24-bit by simply truncating the least significant 8-bits that AA/CEP padded with zeroes.

If you performed edits, meaning the file has actual 32-bit data (as opposed to 24-bit + padded zeroes), you'll first want to dither down to 24-bit, and then Save As per the instructions above.

Edit to add:  In the future, two options for saving files after transferring:

<01>  Save As in 24-bit format, per the instructions above.  Upside is you don't have to go back later and truncate / Save As.  Downside is if you re-open in AA/CEP, it'll load the file slowly since AA/CEP doesn't build peak files for 24-bit files.

<02>  Save As 32-bit and then truncate to 24-bit (as above) before tracking.  Upside is if you expect to open the file in AA/CEP again, it'll open swiftly since AA/CEP builds peak files for 16- and 32-bit files, but not 24-bit files.  Downside is you need to truncate / Save As 24-bit before tracking.

[Albix714]

Thanks Brian,

I followed your instructions exactly and I can now load the new file into CD Wave.

Now CD Wave won't play it. I tried to play other wav files with the same result. If it isn't one thing it's another 

[sygdwm]

i am sure you do, but do you have the latest version od cdwave?

[Albix714]

Yes, I have the latest version of CD Wave. The problem was my soundcard wasn't set for 96Hz playpback. As soon as I reset it, CD Wave worked.