Topic: 24 bit/44.1k - worth it?

[Matt Quinn]

OK, so I've been contemplating jumping to 24 bit stuff, but realized recently that my a>d (M-Audio Fast Track Pro) only works stand alone at 44.1. So I can do 24/44.1, but that's it.   

Also, any nOOb tips on dithering from 24>16bits in CoolEditPro would be great.

If this is in the wrong forum, feel free to move it where ever......

thanks guys

[Jhurlbs81]

What's up Matt?

I would venture to guess that I could not tell the difference between a 24/44.1 and 24/48k signal. The only reason I record at 24/48 is so I can burn to Audio-DVD.  So you'd have to ask yourself what you'd do with the 24/44.1 files. But in terms of sound quality (IMO) the two are nearly identical.  Going from 16 to 24 bit (at any sampling rate) is what makes the biggest difference IMO. 

Sorry dude. No experience with CoolEdit.

Hope you can make it down to NJ.  I might be running MS for Seaside

 

[Matt Quinn]

What's up Jesse, looking for a Seaside ticket as we speak......


Hmm, since I wouldn't be able to burn audio from them, I guess I'm looking at the advantages of a dithered 24 bit source vs a straight 16. I know one is I wouldn't have to worry about levels as much, which would be nice, I'd like to be able to set them conservatively & close my bag up tight for protection. maybe I won;t even bother to save the 24 bit masters, just take advantage of the extra headroom & then dither them & keep the 16 bit copies.

[Jhurlbs81]

So the next question is what do you need to go to 24 bit?  Just a bigger CF card, right?

Jesse

[Matt Quinn]

So the next question is what do you need to go to 24 bit?  Just a bigger CF card, right?

Jesse

Yup. I've been trying to think of the most bang-for-the-buck improvements I can make to my rig. So far, going to 24 bit & getting a pair of sub cards are at the top of the list. I was gonna buy a UA5, but ended up gettin' a Volcano instead.   


 

[T.J.]

i just recently made the jump from 16 bit to 24 bit matt. i record 24/48 now and do so basically b/c i can. most of my listening is in the cd player in the car, so i don't utilize the 24/48 sources YET. down the road i am definitely upgrading my home stereo to a decent system for 24 bit playback. at that point i think it will be VERY happy to have the 24 bit filesets. my theory is if you have the capabilities to run 24 bit, why not?

of course... YMMV

[Brian Skalinder]

Also, any nOOb tips on dithering from 24>16bits in CoolEditPro would be great.

FWIW, the CEP/Audition Help file is quite good.  David Klein provided some very useful discussion when I was first getting into 24-bit recording and using CEP/Audition (you may wish to read the whole thread;  I now use and prefer Samplitude SE v8):

How and when to drop back down to 24 bit?  You can do that at least 3 ways
1) use the internal default dither (on the 'save as' dialog box)
2) use internal dither available with edit, convert sample type and then you can choose a few more options such as dither type
3) use a plugin (i.e. waves L2 or IDR). 

I use method 3 which I can explain.  After all processing, use the plugin to reduce bit depth and dither whichever way you like.  Now you have a 32 bf file that only has an actual bit depth of 24 (verified with the analyze statistics method above).  So next we want to truncate the 32 bf file to 24.  This is done by using the options in the save as dialog box and setting to 24 bit type1, no dither.

Note that this method doesn't work if you want to drop to 16 bit.  For that you still use the plugin to reduce bit depth to 16 but then you have to go edit, convert sample type and select 16 bit and uncheck 'enable dithering'.  Then you save the file (you'll notice the options in the save as box are now greyed out since your file is already at 16 bit.

[Matt Quinn]

Thanks Brian. I will definitely check that thread out. I've actually tried the CEP Help file, but nothing is filed under '24 bit'. I wasn't sure what difference (if any) all the 32 bit stuff would make.

[terrapinj]

What's up Matt?

I would venture to guess that I could not tell the difference between a 24/44.1 and 24/48k signal. The only reason I record at 24/48 is so I can burn to Audio-DVD.  So you'd have to ask yourself what you'd do with the 24/44.1 files. But in terms of sound quality (IMO) the two are nearly identical.  Going from 16 to 24 bit (at any sampling rate) is what makes the biggest difference IMO. 

Sorry dude. No experience with CoolEdit.

Hope you can make it down to NJ.  I might be running MS for Seaside

 

FYI - DVD-Audio can be burned with any sample rate, ive burned DVD-A with 16/44.1 files with no problems.

 i believe it is DVD-Video that requires a sample rate of 48  or 96

and to the original question, yes id say it would be worth it, the jump from 16 > 24bit will be where you hear the most difference. I think the larger sample rates come into play more for editing/mastering than anything else right now

[Jhurlbs81]

>"FYI - DVD-Audio can be burned with any sample rate, ive burned DVD-A with 16/44.1 files with no problems.

 i believe it is DVD-Video that requires a sample rate of 48  or 96"

Oh Ok.  Yeah, I guess I use the DVD-Video format when creating Audio-DVDs.  I only have 48 or 96 as options.

Thanks
Jesse

[terrapinj]

>"FYI - DVD-Audio can be burned with any sample rate, ive burned DVD-A with 16/44.1 files with no problems.

 i believe it is DVD-Video that requires a sample rate of 48  or 96"

Oh Ok.  Yeah, I guess I use the DVD-Video format when creating Audio-DVDs.  I only have 48 or 96 as options.

Thanks
Jesse

check out DVD-Audiofile - great free software for DVD-A will let you burn any sample rate