24bit fixed and 32bit float, what's the difference

[jugalo180]

okay can someone explain to me this terminlology in layman's term, 24bit fixed vs. 32bit float? does it only benifit those with 24/96 sound cards? if not, what does it do for 16bit cards?

[Blue Bear Sound]

32-bit is the word size used internally by Cubase for digital processing (ie, digital arithmetic)... the end result is always 24-bit audio tracks.

24-bit means that all digital arithmetic will stay in the 24-bit word size...

In theory, the 32-bit internal processing should give you better results when doing digital editing or applying processing, but the signal has to dither to 24-bit anyways....

I always work in 24-bit and leave it at that....

[jugalo180]

okay, you say 32 is better in theory(meaning 32 bits is more information than 24?). now wouldn't that pose the same question about 24bits vs. 16bits? 24 is better in theory but it all comes back to 16bits. i hear that people work in 24 because you can do more processing due to the more information, and then they dither. would that remaine to be true with 32bit float vs. 24bit?

[Blue Bear Sound]

It makes sense to work in as high a resolution as possible, until the moment you have to dither down to the current redbook standard....

it's the same as working with graphic images... if you start with low-resolution and apply graphic effects, the picture becomes very choppy and murky, but if you did the same processing in a higher resolution, the image would remain clear...

[Bass Master "K"]

There is a definate difference between 16 and 24 bit.
There is a difference between 24 and 32 floating but it is less drastic.

Since my computer has plenty of oomph I always use the 32 floating, it sounds great to me. I have never tried a 24 vs. 32 comparison so I can't give any personal experience, but I have with 16 vs. 24 and 16 vs. 32 and there is a difference.

I would say go with as high of a bitrate as your puter will handle if the project is important. If your just sketching out ideas, or making personal records of songs it may not be as important.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Again for clarity....

There is NO actual 32-bit wordsize.... it is simply the INTERNAL word size Cubase uses for DSP mathematics.... the WAVs remain at 24-bit, even in 32-bit mode....

[jugalo180]

so in other words it's cubase's own language?

[Blue Bear Sound]

Something like that....!