Using 32bit Float Point

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by WombatStudio.Org

It's all very simple really, but it gets over-complicated all too often (...) 32bf is useless for RECORDING live since no converter supports it (...) If you clip on the way in, game over.

Yes, if only people got rid of the 16bit era and "must---hit---red" mantra.

Recording audio through 24bit converter is by the way usually about 20bit (roughly 120dB dynamics) in real life. Therefore we could safely consider -20dBFS maximum recording level and still not lose any quality.

I could imagine having a 32bf conversion would be useful should I ever need to record a jet fighter taking off or something, but even then for safety reasons I doubt I could get close enough to be able to take advantage of such huge dynamics.

[dr_daw]

+1...JFreak, that must've been before DA-88 and ADAT. Even at 16bit, I was always told to leave at least, absolute least, -3dbfs of headroom. I wasn't just told, it was a requirement. I was allowed to push the analogue gear, but clipping the recordings or even coming close would result in a donation of my time to re-record the tracks. NOthing worse than a paying client coming back and saying 'Hey, you clipped my tracks!'

[JFreak]

Yep. And I believe you might have some extra harshness in the tracks that are hitting -3dB as well. I have to confess that it took me 10 years to really get it that converters don't want to work in the top 6dB area (the last bit if you think it that way). Once I started to set peaks at -20dBFS all of a sudden sound got more open and 3D without changing any hardware. right now I just can't believe it took me that long to discover the magic of a VOLUME KNOB on my monitor controller :)