bapu
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What are the ramifications of this?
Say I record a project at 44.1K/24bit and then send the entire project to a system that can only operate at 44.1/16bit. On that system some changes are made to the existing WAVs (i.e. slip editing, audio snap) , the project is saved and the entire project is brought back to my system. BTW both systems are SONAR.
What are the results? Has the quality of the tracks now been compromised/degraded?
Never thought of this before, but it got me thinking if this is a bad thing to do.
Not asking for the merits of doing or not doing it, just curious what the ramifications are if it "had" to be done.
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Beagle
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:35:28
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I'm thinking yes. all of the audio anyway that was convertered to 16bit has lost resolution during that transfer.
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bapu
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:38:04
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Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too but I'm wondering if there is concrete confirmation (not that I entirely doubt your thinking Beag). Probably since we both think it to be true, it mus be. 
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Beagle
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:40:25
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the way to find out is to do it and see. transfer the project to the other computer, open it with sonar there. then save it.
then go to the AUDIO folder of that project on that computer and look to see if the wave files were converted to 16bit.
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bapu
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:42:48
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DUH! 
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Old55
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:50:31
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If I remember correctly, the number of bits corresponds to the dynamic range of the wave file. Going from 24 to 16 bits will probably give you some noise during quiet parts and possible some clipping when it gets loud.
If you're going to convert the file to MP3, you probably don't have to worry about it.
I'll check to verify.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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bapu
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:52:33
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Yeah, I did not really think it through but the explanations by both of you make perfect sense.
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Beagle
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:58:46
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so, building on what Jan has said here, after you save the project on the computer with a 16bit soundcard, then just open each of those wave files in the AUDIO folder with CDEX or LAME (LAH-MAY) and then convert them all to 128kbps MP3's and that should solve all of your problems! 
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bapu
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 21:59:42
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Should I clip the mix engine first?
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Beagle
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 22:01:08
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bapu
Should I clip the mix engine first?
DUH!!!
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Old55
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 22:21:14
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I don't think you have to worry about the sound card being 24 bits. I think Sonar works in 24 bits regardless of the sound card. You also have to convert to 16 bits if you want to burn it to a CD anyway. I'd save the master at 24 bits in case you want to use it for HD/DVD quality audio later on.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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digi2ns
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 23:26:35
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Ive played with it as well. Tried same projects at 16, 24, 48 and 96 bits and it does make a huge difference on file sizes with the higher you go on the setting (will suck up alot of HDD space) but for Web use my research and ears agree with the 44.1/24 settings with saving a copy as my Master Wave file and load/work with it from there.
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craigb
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/18 23:34:34
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I always like to work with settings at least one up from whatever the end result will be, but I don't recall ever bouncing between machines like that (on internet colaborations we always used the same settings). I agree with Reece that the best thing is to just try a test but, of course, that doesn't necessarily increase your post count!
(not that post count matters!)
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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Beagle
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/19 08:27:56
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craigb
I always like to work with settings at least one up from whatever the end result will be, but I don't recall ever bouncing between machines like that (on internet colaborations we always used the same settings). I agree with Reece that the best thing is to just try a test but, of course, that doesn't necessarily increase your post count!
(not that post count matters!)
+1 post count incremented.... Hey - baps - maybe this means you need a new portable 24bit USB soundcard?
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bapu
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/19 10:49:32
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Reece,
I do have a portable sound card. Cakewalk UA-1G. In fact I have two. One for the road and one when the laptop is at home.
It was more of a hypothetical question (and one not well thought out before I asked it).
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drewfx1
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Re:What are the ramifications of this?
2011/06/19 13:01:33
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The first thing Sonar does when it opens a file is convert everything to the 32bit floating point it uses internally (or 64bit, if the 64bit engine is enabled). The other user's 16bit soundcard has no bearing on this. If he/she saves the output to a file at 24bits, nothing you sent is lost. It is only his/her monitoring that runs at 16bits, or newly recorded tracks, if any. But personally I would recommend always using 32bit files, if possible.
post edited by drewfx1 - 2011/06/19 13:02:37
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