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?

[Keybeeetsss]

Good stuff here.. Glad to get clarification on this as I wondered about this myself.. I always RTD tho then export so this is good to know...


Sent from EPIC 4G using Tapatalk On'eim...

[Zarabozo]

Originally Posted by 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?

If neither your recordings or your mix are clipping anywhere, you don't need to do anything.

What most people seems to not understand about the 32 bit float on PT10, is that it's an invisible feature. Your metters still work the same way as if you were working at 24 bit. You can actually switch the session parameters from 24 bit to 32 bit float without actual changes to the files.

The reason for this is that 32 bit float is the same as 24 bit, except it has a lot more headroom. If you clip a recording in 24 bit for 3 dbs, the file gets clipped. If you clip by 3 dbs while using 32 bit float, the mixer metter shows your recording clipping, but the file supports that clipping with that extra headroom (meaning that you can lower the clip gain and have no distortion at all).

If you convert your 32 bit float session to 24 bit, you don't need any dither because the only thing getting truncated is the extra headroom. Any wave information on the file bellow that extra headroom is perfectly compatible with 24 bit and show the same levels in the mixer.

The keyword here is "float". It's not 32 bit vs 24 bit. It's 32 bit float vs 24 bit. 32 bit float "peaks" at the same exact point as a 24 bit file. The difference is that it has the space to store more bits over that peak point, while 24 bit simply hits the roof and distorts.

HTH

Francisco

[Napping]

That makes sense if dithering does nothing for a BTD from 24 to 24. Is this the case? What then is this X-factor Bob notices? Maybe that difference is just in comparing bouncing from a 32 float session to 32 float files versus bouncing to 24 bit files dithered from the same 32 float session? If that is the explanation, than you're saying that from 32 float to 24 I need do nothing. Exactly what I was wondering. I don't know if this is a contentious area or not, but it seems that there is a lot of misunderstanding...perhaps just my own.

[DJ Hellfire]

Originally Posted by Zarabozo

If neither your recordings or your mix are clipping anywhere, you don't need to do anything.

What most people seems to not understand about the 32 bit float on PT10, is that it's an invisible feature. Your metters still work the same way as if you were working at 24 bit. You can actually switch the session parameters from 24 bit to 32 bit float without actual changes to the files.

The reason for this is that 32 bit float is the same as 24 bit, except it has a lot more headroom. If you clip a recording in 24 bit for 3 dbs, the file gets clipped. If you clip by 3 dbs while using 32 bit float, the mixer metter shows your recording clipping, but the file supports that clipping with that extra headroom (meaning that you can lower the clip gain and have no distortion at all).

If you convert your 32 bit float session to 24 bit, you don't need any dither because the only thing getting truncated is the extra headroom. Any wave information on the file bellow that extra headroom is perfectly compatible with 24 bit and show the same levels in the mixer.

The keyword here is "float". It's not 32 bit vs 24 bit. It's 32 bit float vs 24 bit. 32 bit float "peaks" at the same exact point as a 24 bit file. The difference is that it has the space to store more bits over that peak point, while 24 bit simply hits the roof and distorts.

HTH

Francisco

Thanks a lot for this explaination! This is the only thing I've read on the subject that makes me fully understand it! You also answered all the questions I had about 32-bit float!