trying to export from higher bit depth

I've recorded and exported/burned a fair number of songs for a "newbie" over a year or so, but have always done everything at 16 bit, to avoid hassles.

Now I woud like to get a little higher quality sound. As an experiment, I did a very simple 2 track recording, with my settings ( I think) at 24 bit depth, exported the audio, but when I tried to burn the CD, it gave me the warning about audio needing to be at 16 bit.

I have read a few forums about dithering etc. As far as I know I have my dithering option on (triangle), and when I exported, it showed it as on, but when I tried to burn the CD, it wouldn't work. Should it do this automatically or should I be doing something else?

Also, in the same forums, it said to record 24 bit, and have sample rate at 48. When I tried to change my sample rate to 48, it said "one or more sound cards are not compatible with 48" I have my interface set at 48. Am I missing something?

You guys have been great in the past, hopefully someone can help.

Brian.

I just realized that in the actual export screen I had not changed the option to 16 bit. I did now, and it was fine. Duh.....

The other thing about the sample rate, I think I'll just leave it at 44.1. It seems like much less hassle.

Thanks.

Maybe I'll try that.

Thanks for the advice.

One additional question:

If I record project  A at 24 bit, but then switch to project B to work on it, and it was recorded at 16 bit, do I have to go to my options and change the settings back to 16 bit, to work on Project B? In other words for each project you have to have all your settings at the original one, even if just mixing, etc.

I think you do, I'm just double checking.

Thanks so much.

We'll see how this all works out.

Maybe try exporting to a 16 bit / 44.1kHz WAV file on disk first and then try burning that to the a CD. If nothing else, that will help you narrow the problem to either the export or the burning.

Sorry I wasn't more clear; I'm referring to the hard disk in your computer. Speaking for myself, I typically export to a 16 bit / 44.1kHz WAV file and then use that file for burning to a CD. It sounds like you're trying to do burn the mix file directly to CD. That may work in general, but it seemed like a good idea to try doing the audio mix-down export to the computer hard disk to make sure that's working. Then use that file to burn to the CD to make sure that's working. If that all works then cool, you have a process to follow. If not, then you'll have a better idea where the problem is.

Just check your export before you try to burn it.

Import it into an empty Sonar project and play it. If it sounds ok then proceed to the burning stage.

Bristol you nailed it. My burner was fried. Problem is since it's a laptop, the part can't be replaced ( and it's only 20 months old)!!!**##. I bought an external burner, and am going to try that in next day or two. Hopefully I'll be back in the good stuff.