True 24 bit recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter PHILANDDON
  • Start date Start date
P

PHILANDDON

New member
So, I have the BR-1600 and I like it. However, lately I've been concerned that it is not a true 24 bit recorder. According to the specs, the 1600 converts the analog signal to 24 bit digital but with something called delta sigma modulation. Then the information gets recorded on the machine's hard drive in 16bit linear mode.

Can anyone tell me how delta sigma modulation works? How much does it degrade sound quality? Also, how important is it to own a machine that records and processes at 24bit?

I love the ease of the 1600 and it has more than enough tracks and effects for me, but I want a great sounding machine. Should I upgrade? If so, to what?
 
still wanna know

does anyone know what delta sigma modulation is? How does it affect the sound? How important is it to record at 24 bit vs. 16bit? How important is it to add DSP and to master at 24bit vs. 16bit? THANKS!!

See my post below.
 
Well, Delta Sigma is the type of analog-digital converter. Pretty much all audio ones are that type these days. It's nothing to be concerned about. The important spec with such converters is the oversample rate, the higher the better.
A 24bit converter used for 16bit isn't unusual either, it's a long time since 16bit converters have been used - 18,20,22 or 24bit are the norm. Converting at a higher resolution than used is better as the lower value bits are thrown away (truncated) and that's mostly noise. Quality is improved on playback by adding a dither signal that can magically make 16bit sound like 20bit.

DSP effects applied to 16bit recordings can never be as good as ones on 24bit, however, Boss/Roland are not known for the quality of their reverbs in the first place, and there's probably nothing built in any recorder that's as good as a dedicated unit such as a Lexicon. Unfortunately, I don't think BR units have an extra external send/return bus to hang a seperate FX unit on.

If your music isn't classical/acoustic, a 16bit recording is ample quality although you need to record as hot a signal as possible. If you did have true 24bit, you could stop worrying as the range is so much higher.

You might consider getting an external mic preamp/channel strip. Built in pre's are never the best, and one with a compressor and/or limiter will aid getting a hot recording from mic'd up acoustic instruments while reducing the risk of clipping in the recording.
 
I asked Roland's Laura Tyson this same question and her reply was:

The BR-1600CD has 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, and it stores audio on
the hard drive in 16 bit linear format.
The internal mixer is 24-bit. It uses the same sample rate (44.1 kHz) as
Compact Discs.

The Sample Rate (44.1 kHz) only affects one thing: The overall Frequency
Response.. that is, what is the highest
frequency the BR will playback? And the answer is 20 kHz, which is WAY
beyond the scope of human hearing, anyway.

The BIT RATE affects the Dynamic Range.. that is - how many steps of
resolution do you get between the softest soft
and the loudest loud. And although the hard drive resolution is 16 bit,
the internal mixer and D/A convertor resolution
is 24-bit, so the richness and clarity of things like EQ and Reverb will
sound *better* than CD Quality.

Bottom line: Because of its 24-bit A/D and D/A, the BR-1600CD provides a
higher audio quality and
resolution than any CD. So you can consider the audio quality of the
BR-1600CD as "better than CD".


Laura Tyson
Roland Corporation US
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top