Topic: Random 24 bit questions....

[Patrick]

Since I just got an r4 last week I am starting to run 24 bit now.  I've got a few logistical questions that I could not find in the archives or through a search.

1. I tracked out the 24/96 file, and dithered/resampled in order to drop the .cue sheet into the program to track the 16 bit file.  How long *should* it take to dither/resample a 1 hour 10 minute set?  It's taking my ibook g4 (plenty of ram) well over 20 minutes in Audacity.  Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?  I consulted Brian's posted workflow and followed all of the directions and settings.

2. How many of you seed both the 24 bit and 16 bit copies of shows?  Right now I am leaning towards seeding the 16 bit and making the 24 bit available (via a note in the txt file) to anyone else who wants it.  I guess it's just a matter of preference, but some of the 24 bit filesets on etree are hardly touched sometimes, and I would hate to waste the bandwidth if no one will download them.

3. For archiving the original files, do you:

• Save the original, 2gb split files in wav format, or...
• Align the complete set together, convert to flac and then archive?

I am thinking #2 since I can open the original set without having to align them at a later date.  Am I correct in thinking this?

Thanks for the help in advance.  Like I said, I have done quite a bit of searching and reading through this and other boards today, just need some clarification on the basics.  I am really liking what I'm hearing so far, certainly a big improvment over 16 bit.  Looking forward to diving in deeper

[Nick Graham]

Depending on what type of dithering scheme you use, the time will vary. 20 minutes isn't that long for a 70 minute show. Also, it's the resampling that takes sooooooooo long. The exact same file at 24/48 would take half the time.

I always save the original uncut 24 bit wav exactly as it was recorded, tracked 24 bit FLAC files, and tracked 16 bit files.

[dorrcoq]

What he said!

Every time I've dithered and down sampled it has taken far longer than 20 minutes, I wish my computer was that fast.

[F.O.Bean]

takes me 15-20 mins to resample and dither a 24/96 1.5 hr set in WL 5.01b

[BobW]

my "workflow" -

1) All edits, fades, limits, audience compression, etc. done at 96Khz in 32bit float (24bit)
2 Dither,filter, resample (the24/96 to 16/44.1 conversion process)
3) Track in CD Wave
      CD Wave is still $15, breaks on CD Sector boundaries, and is the easiest way to negotiate a hour or two of Wavfile.  It also now does 4GB file sizes.

4) Then SHN or FLAC as desired for Archiving

[Patrick]

CD Wave is still $15, breaks on CD Sector boundries, and is the easiest way to negotiate a hour or two of Wavfile.  It also now does 4GB file sizes.

I miss CD Wav    After switching platforms I can't run it anymore. 

Thanks for the help guys.

[todd e]

why would you use CD Wave?  i know why I used it in the past, but most wav editing software does a decent job on the splits (24bit), and then incorporate FLAC Frontend, the SBE are a thing of the past.  i used to be adamant about CD Wave(16bit), but now spliting with WL5 (correctly!) seems way easier and it take much less time because you can batch process...

[T.J.]

goog thread patrick!
i'm making the jump to 24 bit and i'm sure i'll have a couple questions pop up.
here's one:

regarding 2 gig automatic splits:
do most people have their recorders split @ 2 gig, 1 gig, or do you do it manually i cdwave? it seems like it may be a PITA to cut and paste files together if the auto splits occur in b/w a song. and, does that cause SBE if done incorrectly?

[sygdwm]

goog thread patrick!
i'm making the jump to 24 bit and i'm sure i'll have a couple questions pop up.
here's one:

regarding 2 gig automatic splits:
do most people have their recorders split @ 2 gig, 1 gig, or do you do it manually i cdwave? it seems like it may be a PITA to cut and paste files together if the auto splits occur in b/w a song. and, does that cause SBE if done incorrectly?

there are no SBE's when dealing w/ 24bit files. i have my recorder set to split at 2 gb. i just join them together in wavelab5. very easy.

[wbrisette]

goog thread patrick!
i'm making the jump to 24 bit and i'm sure i'll have a couple questions pop up.
here's one:

regarding 2 gig automatic splits:
do most people have their recorders split @ 2 gig, 1 gig, or do you do it manually i cdwave? it seems like it may be a PITA to cut and paste files together if the auto splits occur in b/w a song. and, does that cause SBE if done incorrectly?

Originally the Deva IV & V simply created a long file, too long. Most apps wouldn't open them up. With my input and a few others who are using the Deva for music, we got them to change it so the files broke automatically at 2 GB. Since everything is timecoded, putting them back together again is a snap, just pop the track into your DAW, align the tracks with the timecode and regardless of where the break occurred, the music is seemless.

Now, depending on what you're using for your audio software, this might be a bit harder, but in general, it's really not that bad.

Wayne

[T.J.]

::EXTREMELY NEWBIE INQUIRY WARNING::

okay i'm almost embarrassed to ask this one, but hear goes: How do i know the file i'm listening to from my CPU is in fact a 24 bit file? i transferred files recorded at 24/48 and when opened in wavelab 5.0 they are in fact 24/48 files. now when i listen back to them though a set of cans, is what i hear playing back 24 bit audio? fwiw i don't have a soundcard installed. i have some DELL integrated audio something or other ( i have to check the exact name when i get home...)

::END NEWBIE INQUIRY::

[sygdwm]

its possible your soundcard (or lackthereof) will resample/dither on the fly. i think winamp tells you what bit depth/sample rate you are playing through it. you may be able to find some specs of your onboard audio somewhere online.

[T.J.]

its possible your soundcard (or lackthereof) will resample/dither on the fly. i think winamp tells you what bit depth/sample rate you are playing through it. you may be able to find some specs of your onboard audio somewhere online.

i know i don't have a soundcard and didn't know whether or not is was necessary to playback 24 bit files via speakers/headphones. the hardware package is the DELL analog intergrated audio (soundMAX i believe). i'm fairly certain the software capabilities are there, i wonder about the hardware 

[ghellquist]

24 bits -- it is the very rare person with very good equipment that can hear the difference between 16 and 24 bit playback at all. If your equipment is the normal computer soundcard it generally is a bit less than 16 bit and you will not hear the difference. The big point in running 24 bits is that it saves you a lot of options for postprocesing. The general idea, as compared to 16 bits, is to lower the gain something like 10dB and then raise it in again in your computer at home. This way you have 10dB of headroom for that non-expected higher volume with no cost in increased noise.

Gunnar

[Patrick]

24 bits -- it is the very rare person with very good equipment that can hear the difference between 16 and 24 bit playback at all. If your equipment is the normal computer soundcard it generally is a bit less than 16 bit and you will not hear the difference. The big point in running 24 bits is that it saves you a lot of options for postprocesing. The general idea, as compared to 16 bits, is to lower the gain something like 10dB and then raise it in again in your computer at home. This way you have 10dB of headroom for that non-expected higher volume with no cost in increased noise.

Gunnar

I do all of my postprocessing on an ibook g4, with a 24 bit soundcard, and I can safely say that I can hear the difference between 24 and 16 bit recordings even through the stock laptop speakers.  Using some better monitors for transferring really makes the recordings shine.  I am absolutely loving 24 bit right now.  Thanks for the help everyone.