16 bit -> 32bit -> 16bit

[bairradino]

Is there any advantage in transforming 16 bit recorded material to 32 bit, for mixing and mastering, and then re-transform again to 16 bit for recording?

[ecktronic]

I would say there might be an advantage be it a small one. The already recorded tracks will not magically be of a better quality by changing the resolution to 32 bit. But i think if you master it in 32 bit the effects you add might possibly make the overall sound a bit better than if mastering at 16bit. At the same time though you will use up maybe 2-3 times the amount of storage by converting up. Why not record in 32 bit 91kHz. Then you will get a better sound but your hard drive will hate you for it.

[Clit Torres]

Originally Posted by bairradino

Is there any advantage in transforming 16 bit recorded material to 32 bit, for mixing and mastering, and then re-transform again to 16 bit for recording?

IMHO, there's no real advantage to upsampling to 32bit unless you're gonna be doing any offline processing during mixing/mastering.

[Bulls Hit]

There may be an advantage in that the cumulative effect of rounding errors as a result of digital operations & calculations will be smaller in a 32 bit number than a 16 bit number.

However the s/w may translate to 32 bit for internal calculations anyway, in which case there's no advantage

[crankz1]

Yeah, most programs do their internal DSP at 32 bit float now days anyway.
Best thing to do would be to upgrade to a 24 bit card with quality converters, allowing for a greater dynamic range.

[bairradino]

Thanks guys.
The material was recorded, two years ago, with a 16 bit sound card.
According your comments I'll convert the tracks to 32 bit before applying denoisers, Eq's and compressors.