to dither to dither to dither

[shackrock]

i got my stuff ready for a final mixdown to CD...

in the "mixdown" options - what do i set to what?

BITS:
- use soundcards setting
- 16-bit
- 24-bit
- 32-bit float

DITHER:
- use dither dither depth [bits] = x (enter amount)
-noise shaping


what should i choose?!


whats the right combination..that is..haha

btw - delta 44.

 

[Slackmaster2K]

I use...

- Use Soundcard Settings
- Dither 1 bit, no noise shaping

Why? Yeah, I can't remember... Really the only dithering that's going to take place if you're doing 24bit recording is the dithering from n-Track's 32bit internal representation back to 24bit....not a big whoop, but what the hell. I don't trust n-Track to do any sort of noise shaping...it can't even resample for shit.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[Slackmaster2K]

BTW, if you master your mixdown in a wave editor that supports 32bit files, then you might as well create 32bit mixdown files. In this case you don't have to worry about n-Track dithering...you'll worry about that in your editor.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[shackrock]

so, usee soundcard's settings, dither 1 bit

that will make it 16 bit in the end??

 

[Slackmaster2K]

I don't like n-Track for crap like dithering and resampling or any of that jazz. Do you have any kind of wave editor? Soundforge or something? Heck, you'd probably be better off with Goldwave. Create mixdowns at either 24 or 32bit, and do your final tasks in an editor.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[cordura21]

I always heard that you have to try to keep your bit reduction and your dithering as close to the end of the process (e.g. burning) as you can.


Cheers, Andrés

 

[shackrock]

well can i just mixdown to 16 from n track..no dither?

honestly...i can hear no difference between mixdowns from "use soundcard (24bit)" or 16bit selections...

lol

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Yeah you can do whatever you'd like! Remember, if you can't hear a problem, it doesn't exist!

Slackmaster 2000

 

[cordura21]

he's right, if you don't hear it it doesn't exist. Many great records were done in 16 bits. What I refer to was the "purist" way of doing it. If your tracking levels are not so great, then using 24 bits can be forgiving, and it can also help you with quiet noises like reverb tails, etc...

Cheers, Andrés

 

[Rusty K]

Dither

Hey,

My understanding is if you are still processing your sound don't dither.

I dither at the last step which is when I master my mixes with
T-racks. In T-Racks options I choose "dither".

Rusty K