Optimum Recording Bit Rate?

[brentrains]

I typically track in 16/44...is this optimum, or should I be tracking in 16/48, 32/48, etc....?

My priority is sound quality.
I don't typically require a lot of tracks.

I am running PT 8 on an iMac G5, and have very few third party plugs (instrument or processing).

Thanks in advance.

[musicalavtech]

Originally Posted by brentrains

I typically track in 16/44...is this optimum, or should I be tracking in 16/48, 32/48, etc....?

My priority is sound quality.
I don't typically require a lot of tracks.

I am running PT 8 on an iMac G5, and have very few third party plugs (instrument or processing).

Thanks in advance.

the bigger the numbers...the higher the sound quality...the more HD space and CPU usage trade off. It depends on your interface...oh, you left out that info.

[scottedog]

24bit give you way more headroom than 16bit, less chance of clipping and lower noise floor.

[mindnoise]

hi,

simple

1. Always record in 24 bit.
there is no reason to record in 16bit anymore, it give a much higher signal to
noise ration and you don´t have to record on hot level, thus avoiding clipping.
50% to 75% usage of the level meter is totally enough.

Recording in 32 bit only makes sense when you have a 32bit Analog to Digital Converter.
(And to my knowledge there exists none on this planet)


2. Set the recording sample rate with the final product in mind.
avoid sample rate conversion where ever possible. This is what really
deteriorates you quality.
For CD go 44.1kHz, for DVD go 48kHz etc.

And finally: A higher quality analog input chain gives you far better results than higher sample rates.

that´s all there is.

best :)

[brentrains]

Originally Posted by mindnoise

hi,

simple

1. Always record in 24 bit.
there is no reason to record in 16bit anymore, it give a much higher signal to
noise ration and you don´t have to record on hot level, thus avoiding clipping.
50% to 75% usage of the level meter is totally enough.

Recording in 32 bit only makes sense when you have a 32bit Analog to Digital Converter.
(And to my knowledge there exists none on this planet)


2. Set the recording sample rate with the final product in mind.
avoid sample rate conversion where ever possible. This is what really
deteriorates you quality.
For CD go 44.1kHz, for DVD go 48kHz etc.

And finally: A higher quality analog input chain gives you far better results than higher sample rates.

that´s all there is.

best :)

This is awesome....Thanks.

So I should record in 24/44.1 for CD's. I suppose I would need to put a dither on my master channel upon bounce, correct?

[albee1952]

Yes, you will need dither when going from 24 bit to 16 bit. I always record at 24 bit and lately have started recording at 48K as it extends the high-end a bit. So far, I can't hear any artifacts when going from a 48K mix to a 44.1K final(years ago, some felt that the sample rate conversion, actually "smoothed out" the sound of digital. I make no such claims). One thing to remember; when you record at 24 bit, do NOT "slam the meters". Just get the signal up to the middle and maybe into the lowest part of yellow. When using dither, insert it in the very last insert slot as it should be the dead-last process. If you are sending your finals to me mastered, bounce at 24 bit and let the mastering house dither(always give the mastering engineer the highest-quality you can).

[mindnoise]

mostly


dithering is last the very last final step before you finish you recording for CD-duplication. if ever.
So dithering is only applied once in a production cycle.

Dithering essentially induces noise to cover some (possible) artefacts.
But if your recordings contain a lot of quiet passages dither might actually deteriorate
the sound by making quiet passages noisy.

It´s the same as with compression. Too much overrated. Don´t use either until the circumstances
really call for it or you specifically want a certain effect.

It all depends on where you want to go.
best :)

[brentrains]

Albee and Mind Noise,

There should Nobel Prizes with your names all over them!!

Thanks!!

[albee1952]

"Dithering essentially induces noise to cover some (possible) artefacts.
But if your recordings contain a lot of quiet passages dither might actually deteriorate
the sound by making quiet passages noisy."

This is where experimenting with the various noise shaping choices can make a big difference. I sat thru an interesting demonstration of dither last week(thanks to PRISM). It was really a dry presentation and a bit over my head technically, but it did demonstrate how effective dither can be.

[mindnoise]

@brentrains
glad to help you out

I totally agree with you albee.

Noise/Dither are powerful tools.
but as you say there are several different noise shaping models for diverse psycho acoustic effects.

so from here it starts to get really complicated. So I was just trying to make an
think first-approach, because just slapping dither on the bounce isn´t the end, actually.

best