Dithering from 32 Float to 24 Bit

[Napping]

If I am working in 32 float and bouncing 24 bit files to disk, do I need to dither using a plug-in (IDR, PT Dither...etc.), or does PT dither on its own sufficiently?

[Napping]

Anyone? Wondering if I'm missing a critical step.

[panamajack]

If I needed 24 bit for compatibility, I would just begin in 24 bit and not worry about dithering until I wanted to burn a CD in 16 bits.

[Napping]

And if you were working in 32 and bouncing to 24?

[John_Toolbox]

The first question, do any of your dither plugins even have a 24 bit setting?

If so, did you try it both ways and see if it sounds different?

Don't have PT10 so I really don't know... but if the dither plugins have a 24 bit setting, I'd use it.

[Napping]

Wow! Great question! Checked and they don't. Was just assuming they must. Guess PT must do its own dithering on bounce that everyone is happy with?

[mykhal c]

Originally Posted by Napping

Wow! Great question! Checked and they don't. Was just assuming they must. Guess PT must do its own dithering on bounce that everyone is happy with?

if PT10 is the same as PT9 then PT does NOT dither on bounce to disk. it does dither when one uses the export method (after one has recorded the mix to a stereo track...16bit only IIRC)

check this one out. it has 24bit dither...http://www.pspaudioware.com/plugins/...ors/psp_xenon/ hope that helps

[Bob Olhsson]

I just did my 24 bit dither demo for an acoustic jazz mix client yesterday. I didn't tell him what I'd changed and he was floored by how much worse it sounded when I bypassed the dither plug.

My current fav. is PSP audio's xenon limiter. You can turn the limiting off with the control at the center-bottom while leaving the dither on. I use 24 bit with no noise shaping. My tests found this to give the best final 16 bit results also using flat dither down to 16. I like it better than 32 bit float.

If the mix did not employ dither, noise-shaping can sound better going to 16 bits. Using the dithered mixer in a TDM system accomplishes the same thing as the PSP plug in a native system.

[panamajack]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

...My current fav. is PSP audio's xenon limiter. You can turn the limiting off with the control at the center-bottom while leaving the dither on. I use 24 bit with no noise shaping. My tests found this to give the best final 16 bit results also using flat dither down to 16. I like it better than 32 bit float.

If the mix did not employ dither, noise-shaping can sound better going to 16 bits. Using the dithered mixer in a TDM system accomplishes the same thing as the PSP plug in a native system.

I still have TDM cards, so I have the 24 bit mixer, and doubt I would see much benefit from a $249 dither plug-in unless I work outside of HD.

But it brings up an interesting point. If 32 bit is preferable for HDX and non-HD, and 24 bit file saves should be dithered, why are none of the Avid included dithers capable of 24 bit dithering?

[Bob Olhsson]

Originally Posted by panamajack

...If 32 bit is preferable for HDX and non-HD, and 24 bit file saves should be dithered, why are none of the Avid included dithers capable of 24 bit dithering?

I've been asking them that for a decade!