ZilDoggo
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
663
Posted : Mar 16, 2005 17:28
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hi peeps,
just for the record,
mixing several 16 bit waves into a 24 bit wave DOES have a better quality than mixing them to 16 bits.
this is because if you mix to 16 bits then you need to cram all those original 16 bit files into just one 16 bit file.
this means that you have way too much information .,
so you have to reduce it first by reducing the levels (and thus the bit depth) of the original files.
in fact, if you listen to a normal 16 bit cd then you are listening to a mix of (estimate) 12 bit sources!
so, in other words, you can never hear all original 16 bit files in full resolution from a final 16 bit mixdown file.
24 bits has a lot more space. you can have 256 16-bit files inside a 24 bit file with their full resolution.
anyway, modern sequencers upmix everything to 32 bit floating point.
this is done because processing on a higher bit depth gives you smaller errors.
furthermore, floating point notation has some other advantages when it comes to rounding errors.
so processing in a higher bitdepth does realy make sense.
for sending to mastering, 24 bits should be more than enough.
32 bit float is almost perfection.
again, if your end mix is 16-bit then you have already lost information. you should mix down to 24 or 32 bits before mastering.
if you master in the same software as where you produce the music then you could mix down to 16 bits, because the sound will be processed in 32 bits.
but then you need to be sure that the track doesnt need any further processing.
anyway, these are just guidelines,
you can always mix down to 8 bit 12khz 
but mixing to 24 bits and up should give you a more precise result at mastering.
greets,.
aka., |
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