A/D input levels with 24-bit - need to max out?
You could be using only the lowest 10 bits of your 24 bit hardware, and that would certainly degrade a 16 bit source. It would only degrade if the signal has more dynamic range than can be properly represented by 10 bits. Of if by playing the signal louder from the source it is being rasied further above the noise floor. To me this risk of clipping (flat topping) by trying to position the peaks in the music at too close to the maximum signal of the ADC is a much greater risk. |
Shadorne...As mentioned in another thread I have found that EVERY CD, at some peak signal point, comes within 2 or 3 dB of maximum, but never more (ie: no digital clipping). I'm told that this is no accident, and that when CDs are mastered the signal level is adjusted to achieve this end. So every CD uses all 16 bits, and represenring the signal using fewer bits, eg 19, results in loss of resolution. In other words, the least significant bit would represent more analog voltage at your speaker. |
Thanks, a variety of opinions here, basically all over the map, I think. On one hand, with 24-bit, I can afford to not worry about maxing out the gain, but on the other hand I could lose a a lot. Just to underline, I'm recording at 24-bit. I know that at 16 I'd be crazy not to try to get the highest gain, but don't I have enough bits at 24 to get by? If I could record at 96 would that be even better? |
I suggest you buy this Digital Audio Explained book. It explains it all clearly. It will cost you very little and it will put your mind at rest. An ordinary 16 bit CD has 96 db of dynamic range. 24 bits give you 144 db dynamic range (this is really only needed by studios, as they mess with signal levels on each track and it gives them a bigger sand box to play in). Since a turntable will give you at most 60 db dynamic range (well known fact) then you have a lot of room to play with even with 16 bits: 96 - 60 db = 36 db of extra dynamic range, which is about 6 Bits that really are never needed to faithfuly reproduce the entire output of a very high quality LP/TT rig. Add to this the fact that recordings with such extreme dynamic range as 60 db are extremely rare to almost non existant. Try Shefield labs drum track and you may get close to 60 db. I have the CD and I can hear the print through of the kick drum from the analog tape very clearly. It sounds like tiny clicks which echo the real recording only a second or so later and it stems from the way the tape is stored on a reel. (analog tape has limted dynamic range of about 60 db too) I really think you are worrying too much. |
