What in the world does this mean

[Cedar Fever]

A bought N-track and am now trying to figure out which audio interface to buy.

I like M-audio's Audiosport Quattro.

When I bought N-track (via cd)...I purchased the 16-bit version. I thought this would do for simple recordings.

HERE IS THE QUESTION......the specs on the Quattro say:

"Only 16-bit supported in MME based applications."

What does this mean and is this going to be a problem for me...a lowly newbee. Thanks...cf

 

[dave in toledo]

a try

im new at this too, but ill try, cd's are 16 bit , i have been told to float up to 32 bit for quality ,then mix down to 16 bit for cd use and to dither the file to make up for the noise created by changing the bit rate. if the card only supports 16 bit and you have the 16 bit program, should be fine, as i said you can float the files( i think it kind of means interpolate) up to 32 bit in n track

im really new to this also but that is the way i think i understand it

hope to have helped

 

[Cedar Fever]

M-audio's reply

Hi Ron,

This just means that using MME drivers (which N-Track uses), you will be limited to 16 bit. Since the software only supports 16 bit anyway, this won't be a problem.

Another limitation with MME applications is that the software will recognize 2 channels instead of all 4, so you'll be limited to recording 2 tracks at a time. Since this is the case, you may save some money by going with our Audiophile USB

 

[dave in toledo]

thats it

hey i knew someone would come around who understands all this pc stuff(hehe) im really a mac guy, large format digital printing and all, but i am trying to learn......

 

[Teej]

N supports MME, WDM, and ASIO. It's not N that limits you to a particular driver model, it's the sound card. I don't have a Quatro, so i'm not positive; but i'd be surprised if it didn't have WDM drivers. If so, you'll be fine at either 16- or 24- bits

You don't wanna use MME if you don't have to. WDM and even ASIO are much better.


Dave is right in that N works at 32-bit float. That means you can manipulate whatever WAV files you bring into N with incredible accuracy. Even if you record at 16-bit, render your first mix at 32-bit float. (I render all instruments to one 32-bit WAV and all vox to a second 32-bit float WAV. Then i import both new WAVs into a new song and do pre-mastering to there. Multiple steps.) Appling your effects and such at 32-bit will make a big diff in the sound quality. When you're ALL done.. no more renders.. no more effects.. THEN convert back to 16 and burn your CD.


Hope this helps.


tj