FastBikerBoy

bobguitkillerleft

bitflipper


noynekker: export 32 bits if you're going to be using another program to modify the file, such as an MP3 encoder or and audio editor. Some older programs don't know what to do with 32-bit files, though, and will require 24-bit files.

Jonesey, FBB: I would like to hear more about this novel abstraction you call a "finished project". Is this something anyone can achieve?

This "dithering","not dithering","only dither once in a projects life"!,is driving me bat s$%^.


In Preffs/Playback Recording,underneath "Driver Mode",where it says "Dithering",what DO YOU guys generally have it set to?

Also say you've recorded at 24 bit 48KHz,rendered to.wav 16bit 44.1,and then "re-import as a new project to MASTER"[as you have NO OTHER software to master with,or the ones you have,are nowhere near as good,as re-importing back into Sonar!]shouldn't one set the "Preffs/AudioData"-"File bit Depths" to what your 16/44.1 .wav IS NOW?[or NOT?]

How can I possibly keep dithering to "Once in a projects Life" when I'm Mastering in Sonar by re-importing an already dithered .wav,to only end up being rendered "again",once said project is ready for CD or Uploading[to soundcloud-which at least allows .wav files]??

I have tried setting "EVERYTHING along the way,to 16/44.1",so NO dithering,should be required,but I suffered greatly from,"gee this all sounds like crap now","I think I should go back to 24/96",and become TOTALLY lost as to how many times a project is being dithered or not.

Any hints,for such workflow[Recording in Sonar,then ReImporting for Mastering in Sonar]would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bob

If I'm not reducing bit depth I have dither set to none, if I am I use pow-r3.
 
When bit depth is reduced the missing bits get truncated or chopped off which introduces distortion, albeit at a low level. Very basically Dithering helps to mask this effect but still introduces some noise, just a more pleasant noise as well as filling out the missing or chopped off information.
 
The idea of only reduce bit depth once is to keep a project at the higher bit depth until you really have to reduce it. i.e. If you are mixing down a project at 24 bit with the intention to master later, export it at 24 bit with no dithering applied then re-open it in your mastering program at that bit depth. Then when you've finished mastering reduce the bit depth for CD or whatever and dither then.
 
Of course if your mastering program can't read 24 bit files then you'll need to dither at the export stage but once you've done it then don't then increase the bit depth then lower it again. 
 
"Mixing audio" by Roey  Izahki has an excellent explanation as well as audio examples of the differences that are boosted as the level lowers so you can hear first the truncation noise and then the dither noise on the dithered examples.
 
HTH

Thanks FBB,Iv'e only been doing it the way I described,oh since I worked out how to export[last christmas!]and leaving the bit depthKHz the same,when Re-importing back into Sonar,only just occurred to me,just before I wrote "edit edit".......unbelievable!


 It must be those serious ENDO's I had when I used to race MX!,and then hitting a kangaroo,while trail riding,breaking the poor bugger in half,and sending me like a human cannon ball for at least 50 or so feet,a while back.

Cheers
Bob