does CPU affect the sound of your stereo mix?

[dontouch]

I feel like my mix sounds better in the project than as a stereo mix.. I was just wondering if it has something to do with the quality of my CPU. I mix in the box 100%. My setup(since 2006): AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8G, 1G Ram. interface: Presonus firepod. Will upgrading the CPU make a difference improving the stereo mix? or should I output it to DAT? Please feel free to make suggestions.

 

[Farview]

Chances are the only reason your mix sounds different as a stereo mix is because of the player you are playing it back in. The CPU has nothing to do with the quality of the mix, it's just crunching numbers. It will crunch the same numbers the same way as any other CPU.

 

[Bristol Posse]

The CPU makes absolutely no difference to the sound of a mix unless it is maxed out by too many vst effects and causes things to stutter while it catches up.
Computer components do not affect sound. by the time it hits the computer it's all 1s and 0s that can then be manipulated by math

 

[dgatwood]

I feel like my mix sounds better in the project than as a stereo mix.

Assuming you're listening to the stereo mix in software that isn't applying EQ, and assuming you're listening to it through the same speakers, audio interface, etc., my guess is that you're mixing down to a lower bit depth or sample rate and that you're able to hear the difference for that reason.

If it's the bit depth change causing the problem, you probably need to change your master fader gain so that you don't have so much wasted headroom, and consider enabling dithering during the mixdown. Leaving too much headroom in the final mix will result in a weak, puny, noisy mix.

If it's the sample rate change, see if your audio app offers a different SRC (sample rate conversion) algorithm, or try mixing down at the higher sample rate and using a different tool to do the SRC. All SRC algorithms are not created equal.