Digital Mixing Question...

[jonwdowns]

i'm mixing from a fostex fd-8 into cool edit pro, through an edirol ua-3d. then in cool edit pro, i adjust some levels, add some effects, and what-not. the fd-8 records 16-bit, 44.1khz. i'm recording into a 32-bit 44.1khz file in cool edit pro, because i've read that using 24 or 32 bit instead of 16 when applying effects is a good thing. i know i'm not gaining any quality when i mix to a 32-bit file, but am i losing anything? i'm not converting the actual file from 16 to 32 bit, i'm mixing into a new 32-bit file...is this not a good idea? should i be mixing into a 16-bit file?

please let me know what you think.

thanks,
jon.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Going up to a larger word size will not degrade the sound.... the degradation will occur when you go back down to 16/44.1 for CD burning..... BUT, that degradation is likely still less than the degradation that would occur by staying at 16/44.1 and doing digital signal processing at that resolution.

 

[jonwdowns]

well, i'm going to send a data cd (32-bit/44.1khz) to the mastering place, and he uses all analog equipment, and redigitizes at 16-bit 44.1khz...so there should be no loss in sound quality in going back to 16-bit either...i think.

thanks for the response!
jon.