Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card?? -Sound Forge - PC

Subject:Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card?? Posted by: dogeatdog Date:2/24/2004 6:50:00 AM Been using SF now for about 4 years, have a quick question for anyone who might know. When recording into SF from an outboard source lets say a DAT player. I select record in 24bit, hit record and no problem. Here is the catch, the card is a 16 bit Soundblaster Live Value. It is not supposed to record in 24 bit, so why does it? I never get any lock ups no issues, but was just curous. Has anyone else seen this, am I supposed to be able to do this? Also, if it is recording in true 24 bit am I able to tell? Rick
Subject:RE: Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card?? Reply by: Chienworks Date:2/24/2004 8:38:34 AM You're probably recording a 16 bit signal with the extra 8 bits padded with zeroes.
Subject:RE: Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card?? Reply by: Sonic Date:2/24/2004 12:34:36 PM The card "should" fail, and probably does internally. But under WinXP, the kmixer component pretty much always tries to make everything work. It should go without saying that if the A/D converter on the card is only 16-bit, that's the highest resolution it will deliver. As noted, you're probably just getting 16-bit samples in a 24-bit wrapper. Check the noise floor and it should be obvious. Regardless of whether kmixer's "always succeed" mentality is convenient in other contexts, it's a big headache for pro audio applications. J.

Subject:Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card??

Posted by: dogeatdog

Date:2/24/2004 6:50:00 AM

Been using SF now for about 4 years, have a quick question for anyone who might know.

When recording into SF from an outboard source lets say a DAT player. I select record in 24bit, hit record and no problem. Here is the catch, the card is a 16 bit Soundblaster Live Value. It is not supposed to record in 24 bit, so why does it? I never get any lock ups no issues, but was just curous. Has anyone else seen this, am I supposed to be able to do this? Also, if it is recording in true 24 bit am I able to tell?

Rick

Subject:RE: Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card??

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:2/24/2004 8:38:34 AM

You're probably recording a 16 bit signal with the extra 8 bits padded with zeroes.

Subject:RE: Recording in 24 bit - Using 16 bit card??

Reply by: Sonic

Date:2/24/2004 12:34:36 PM

The card "should" fail, and probably does internally. But under WinXP, the kmixer component pretty much always tries to make everything work. It should go without saying that if the A/D converter on the card is only 16-bit, that's the highest resolution it will deliver. As noted, you're probably just getting 16-bit samples in a 24-bit wrapper. Check the noise floor and it should be obvious.

Regardless of whether kmixer's "always succeed" mentality is convenient in other contexts, it's a big headache for pro audio applications.

J.