Questions about Bit Depth and Sample Rate

[mgcollins21]

Here's my situation:
I compose most of my music in energy XT at 16bit/44.1 and render at 24bit, 44.1. Then I import these files into PTLE for mixing/psuedo-mastering. Then I render this at 16 bit, 44.1.

My question is: Is it bad or pointless to render at a higher bitdepth in eXT when my tracks will end up in 16/44.1 for cd burning purposes?

I don't compose in anything higher than 16/44.1 b/c I'm afraid my computer won't be able to handle the extra processing.

I hope my questions came across ok. Thanks in advance to replies.

[countach74]

what is pointless is rendering it higher than what it was when you recorded it. you cannot gain audio quality.

[mgcollins21]

Your right that is pointless

[mgcollins21]

But, my music is mostly midi based with very few audio samples. I think my question is: Even though eXT says my Mbox is working in 44.1/16, if I render in 24 bit, will the files render as if my mbox is working in 24 or will it render like a 16 bit file converting to a 24 bit file(which would be pointless)?

[ejwells]

record at 24/44.1 and call it a day

[mgcollins21]

but I don't record much. Just a lot of softsynths.

[albee1952]

Recording at 24 bit gives the best headroom and will not make any significant change in system performance. Save the 16 bit (w/dither) render for the last step before CD burning or MP3 creation.

[mgcollins21]

ok, but as I said, I don't do much recording.
Even though eXT says my Mbox is working in 44.1/16, if I render in 24 bit, will the files render as if my mbox is working in 24 or will it render like a 16 bit file converting to a 24 bit file(which would be pointless)?

[gonzo99]

Yes!

To the pointless part of the question, that is. You gain nothing by changing the bit-depth if the sounds are already 16-bit unless you are planning to record live sounds into the ProTools session. This will at least give you more headroom for recording purposes. But otherwise? No point to it.

At least that's how I understand it

[mgcollins21]

Ok, but:
Even though energyXT says my Mbox is working in 44.1/16, if I render in 24 bit, will the files render as if my mbox is working in 24 or will it render like a 16 bit file converting to a 24 bit file?