Is 32 bit float better quality that 24 bit?

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32-bit float IS still 24-bit digital -- it's just that an extra 8-bits is used internally by the software to extend the precision of the mathematical calculations done during digital processing (and therefore minimizing any degardation due to round-off error that could occur in the process!)
 
It doesn't necessarily extend the "precision" of calculations, but rather the range.

The main and only really noticeable advantage of 32-bit is that it virtually can't be clipped. But the only place where this matters is internally, in a recording program or plugin. And most already process at 32-bit regardless of what you record at, so in reality, it doesn't make any difference.
 
bleyrad said:
It doesn't necessarily extend the "precision" of calculations, but rather the range.

The main and only really noticeable advantage of 32-bit is that it virtually can't be clipped. But the only place where this matters is internally, in a recording program or plugin. And most already process at 32-bit regardless of what you record at, so in reality, it doesn't make any difference.

I could not have said it better myself (which is why I didn't)
 
bleyrad said:
It doesn't necessarily extend the "precision" of calculations, but rather the range.
Semantics - it's the same thing in this case.... The space allotted for internal representation/mathematical calculations is much larger (by 8-bits), allowing greater floating point precision -- which, bottom-line defines allowing a broader range of numbers to be handled, whether floating point or not.
 
You're right, except that the "broader range" only exists above the usual clipping point for 24 bit data.
The extra 8 bits are not actually useful audio data, but an exponent that tells it what range it's dealing with. There's only 24 bits of actual audio to deal with in either case.
 
I know - I pointed that out in my first post in this thread! We're debating the same point!! ;)
 
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