B-Stock Carbon 24-bit vs 32-bit

[boomspot]

Greetings,

I've noticed most of the refurbished or b-stock Carbon units on the market are listed with 24-bit A/D whereas the newer units have 32-bit A/D. Apparently these 24-bit units were manufactured during the last chip shortage. Is that right?

Are there any obvious downsides to going with the 24-bit hardware and saving about $1k if I already have a PT studio license?

Thanks,

B

[dominicperry]

I don't believe this - do you have a link?

Carbon was introduced in Nov 2020 and I bought my Carbon in June 2021 and it has 32bit conversion printed on the box.

AKM chip fire was in Oct 2020.

I have no idea (nor can I find it referenced anywhere) which brand of AD/DA chips are used. But there are four per channel - (presumably meaning 2 in and 2 out) - so I imagine that the 32 bit spec can be achieved using a number of different off-the-shelf chips.

Dominic

[boomspot]

Originally Posted by dominicperry

I don't believe this - do you have a link?

Carbon was introduced in Nov 2020 and I bought my Carbon in June 2021 and it has 32bit conversion printed on the box.

AKM chip fire was in Oct 2020.

I have no idea (nor can I find it referenced anywhere) which brand of AD/DA chips are used. But there are four per channel - (presumably meaning 2 in and 2 out) - so I imagine that the 32 bit spec can be achieved using a number of different off-the-shelf chips.

Dominic

Sure, here's a link, see the disclaimer "Note: This is a 24-bit version of the Pro Tools Carbon Audio Interface, available at a reduced price." : https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...cond=PTCarbonB

Also, if you search reverb you'll see a few listings specifically noting the interface is the 32-bit version.



B

[dominicperry]

The Reverb stuff is nonsense though - the default spec lists the Carbon as having 6 mic pre amps.

But Sweetwater aren't generally purveyors of BS - there's nothing more to go on here unfortunately.

Can I suggest you PM Mark Corbin who is the Avid Product Manager for Carbon - he will be able to answer your question, and it would be great if you could post his reply in this thread.
https://duc.avid.com/member.php?u=156562


Thanks

Dominic

[LDS]

There was a discussion about this 4-5 months ago in one of the big Carbon threads. I can't remember if it was the result of supply chain issues or if it was a design revision, but there were quite a few retailers blowing out the 24-bit versions mid-year.


Personally, if the choice was a 32-bit Carbon... or a 24-bit Carbon plus some nicer monitors or nicer microphones or nicer room acoustics, I would be choosing the latter any day of the week.

[dominicperry]

I can't find any reference to this on Gearspace or KVR.
I'd like a statement from Avid about this and about how to identify the 24 bit boxes, and also what difference it makes if you mix and match - under what circumstances can you expect different behaviour.

Without wishing to accuse anyone of anything, frankly, without evidence, I still am dubious that this is true. It would be a really odd thing to do - start with 32 bit conversion, move to 24bit and then back to 32bit. My early box, and the new boxes are definitely 32bit, so that means a change and a change back, all without any mention at all on any Avid webpage or documentation.

Dominic

[K Roche]

Well I am no expert ,and anything is possible I suppose but

MY Carborn box also says 192/32 bit conversion, the box mfg label says it was boxed 281220 in Mexico, and shipped to me on Jan 4 2021 and has 8 preamps

That reverb add says its 2020 made in China and 6 preamps seems kinda iffy,

But I agree Mark C might know

While apparently in March of 2020 Avid released this a statement ::

"However, the Company was recently notified by its contract manufacturing partners of an order by the Mexican government related to COVID-19 that restricts the partners’ ability to produce new products for the Company through the end of April. These partners manufacture the Company’s storage and audio/video console products. The Company believes it has positioned sufficient finished goods inventory as well as service spares to support the expected demand through the end of the second quarter, assuming no significant extension of the order by the Mexican government."

I was not able to find any info if Avid actually did switch mfg to China or not But even if they did go to China and even if some chip shortage actually caused a switch from 32 to 24 bit --why would the number or pre's change ?????

[dominicperry]

Originally Posted by K Roche

--why would the number or pre's change ?????

no no no! They didn't, it's just an example of the rubbish Reverb has as a default data when selling stuff.

All Carbons have 8 pre amps. No exception.

Dominic

[BScout]

Reverb auto-fills some data now about items. Often with incorrect data. I contacted a seller once about the date/age of his item because it wasn't made (at all) until 4 years after what the listing said and he told me he couldn't find a way to remove what is getting auto-filled.

Pretty much you should message the seller to confirm listing data.

[tope d]

Let me check and get back to everyone on this.

Thanks!