Mixing Acid loops w/24-bit audio question

[pennylink]

I posted this some days again in a different forum, but didn't get a response. Maybe it was the wrong forum and I should have had it here all along, so here goes:

I record guitar, bass, harmonica, and whatever else may be lying around to 24-bit audio tracks in Sonar, and compliment them with acid-type drum and percussion loops.

Presumably a lot of the loops I use are not 24-bit. I haven't noticed any problems mixing the loops and the audio tracks, but I was just wondering if this is ideal. Is there anything I should do when combining the two if they are of different bit rate, or does it not matter?

Thanks in advance!

Francois

[P Hallin]

I think there should be no problem, though if you master your finished tracks you should dither down to 16 bit if you´re putting it on a audio-CD. If you dont know what dithering is, do a search on the board...
When you mix down your separate tracks, do you do it to a 24 bit track or to a 16? Anyway, if the program doesnt complain then there should be no beef...

[TexRoadkill]

Chances are that Sonar is turning the 16bit loops into 24bit files because it is impossible to mix different digital formats in one session. Not a big deal.

[pennylink]

Thanks, guys.

FYI, I usually mix down my finished mix to one 24-bit stereo track, then use the T-RackS 24 mastering program. At that point I dither the WAV file down to 16-bit so I can burn the finished master to CD.

Thanks again!