What's the "RIGHT" order for 24/88.2k to 16/44.1?

KED · Post by **KED** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:59 am

Hi All,

When I've have my 24bit/88.2K mixdown for Peak to dither and change the sample-rate to 16bit/44.1K, what's the proper order for doing this conversion? Should I change the sample rate first and then change the bit depth, or change the bit depth first and then the sample-rate?

I know you guys know.

resolectric · Post by **resolectric** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:17 am

You should only change bit depth once, as the final process in your master recording.

After changing bit depth (with dithering) no other action should be performed on the audio files.

If you are exporting/rendering a multitrack arrangement for Stereo, and subsequent Mastering, you should not change bit depth, and, in fact, there's no need to change sample-rate either.
Leave those for the mastering stage.

Looking into the numbers you have provided, assuming you are recording your Multitrack project at 88.2/24 you should Export/Render the final mix in the same format.
Then, in Mastering, all processing should be made without changing the original Sample-rate/Bit-depth.
When the audio files are sounding correct (as a result of Mastering) you can change Sample-Rate to 44.1 but still keeping them 24 bit.
Arrange song order, do fades/crossfades between tracks, and then, only when everything is ready and set for burning, do a dithered conversion to 16 bit.

KED · Post by **KED** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:50 pm

resolectric,

I'm actually recording in DP at 88.2/32 and exporting at 88.2/32. Your advise sounds good to me. Thanks so much!!!!

oldguitars · Post by **oldguitars** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:09 pm

"I'm actually recording in DP at 88.2/32 and exporting at 88.2/32. Your advise sounds good to me. Thanks so much!!!!"

DP doesn't record at 32....

KED · Post by **KED** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:31 pm

you know what I mean, I'm recording at 88.2/24bit and BTD at 88.2/32Bit (thanks for catching that)

oldguitars · Post by **oldguitars** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:30 pm

i do sample rate first, then dither last...

also, if you record at 24, why are you changing to 32bit? there is nothing to be gained by doing that.

resolectric · Post by **resolectric** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:17 am

oldguitars wrote:i do sample rate first, then dither last...

also, if you record at 24, why are you changing to 32bit? there is nothing to be gained by doing that.

...unless you're doing some post-processing with 32 bit FP Plugins.

KED · Post by **KED** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:51 pm

I should probably clarify. I BTD in DP to sdii 32 bit. Then in Peak I convert the sample rate (thanks resolectric) and lastly change bit depth when I save it as an aiff file. I started using the 32bit sdii files because of a suggestion I read about on the DP side (I can't find the thread at this moment). I compared the final result of going from a 32/88.2k sdii file to 16/44.1 aiff and 24/88.2k aiff file to 16/44.1 and to me, the 32/88.2 to 16/44.1 sounded better.