Acid Pro processing bit depth? -ACID Product Family

Subject:Acid Pro processing bit depth? Posted by: barefoot Date:3/13/2002 1:00:32 PM I've been reading that 32bit precision is the absolute minimum for even the most basic level and mixing operations if you want decent sound from digital audio - 48bit or 64bit precision is true "Pro" quality. What is the processing precision of Acid Pro? Is it robbing my tracks of sound quality?
Subject:RE: Acid Pro processing bit depth? Reply by: Iacobus Date:3/13/2002 3:01:44 PM Believe that ACID Pro's max is 24-bit. Nonetheless, you should be quite happy with the results. One thing to keep in mind: Using 16-bit samples in ACID Pro (set on 24-bit depth) isn't going to make the samples sound any better but will make any subsequent processing of effects done on those samples more precise (due to the extra headroom). Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is with 48 or 64-bit, at least right now. It'd be way beyond the budget of the average home studio musician, and I've yet to see such cards or interfaces. Maybe studios are trying to get us to believe that what they have to offer is better? Dunno, but if that's the case, then whatever... Don't also forget about mixing, EQ, compression and mastering techniques. They can make a bland recording sound that much better. Iacobus
Subject:RE: Acid Pro processing bit depth? Reply by: pwppch Date:3/14/2002 9:04:44 AM Define "Pro quality".... ACID (and Vegas) process all audio internally in 32 bit floating point. This is pretty much the standard in the industry. 48/64 bit FP is just the spec dujour. It refers to using larger float values for internal processing. The whole point in working in floating point is so that DSP process (including mixing) has as much "room" to keep as much intact as is possible until the final conversion to fixed point (the bit depth that you either render to or send to your audio hardware.) There few plugins that currently support 48/64 bit FP, so even if the engine is capable of streaming 48/64, it must be converted to 32 bit FP before being run through the DSP. Don't get caught up in the hype. We've been doing 32 bit FP for a long time - ACID 1 and Vegas 1. You have to. 48/64 is just hype and I am sure the MI Mags will be jumping all over it. It isn't that big of a deal. Note that most "pro hardware" doesn't even work in floating point. They are entirely fixed point since most DSP chips in general use are still fixed point processors. Yes, there are FP DSP chips, but there are a lot more fixed point processors used everyday by all types of pros, pro-sumers, and hobbiest. Peter

Subject:Acid Pro processing bit depth?

Posted by: barefoot

Date:3/13/2002 1:00:32 PM

I've been reading that 32bit precision is the absolute minimum for even the most basic level and mixing operations if you want decent sound from digital audio - 48bit or 64bit precision is true "Pro" quality.

What is the processing precision of Acid Pro? Is it robbing my tracks of sound quality?

Subject:RE: Acid Pro processing bit depth?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:3/13/2002 3:01:44 PM

Believe that ACID Pro's max is 24-bit. Nonetheless, you should be quite happy with the results.

One thing to keep in mind: Using 16-bit samples in ACID Pro (set on 24-bit depth) isn't going to make the samples sound any better but will make any subsequent processing of effects done on those samples more precise (due to the extra headroom).

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is with 48 or 64-bit, at least right now. It'd be way beyond the budget of the average home studio musician, and I've yet to see such cards or interfaces. Maybe studios are trying to get us to believe that what they have to offer is better? Dunno, but if that's the case, then whatever...

Don't also forget about mixing, EQ, compression and mastering techniques. They can make a bland recording sound that much better.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Acid Pro processing bit depth?

Reply by: pwppch

Date:3/14/2002 9:04:44 AM

Define "Pro quality"....

ACID (and Vegas) process all audio internally in 32 bit floating point. This is pretty much the standard in the industry.

48/64 bit FP is just the spec dujour. It refers to using larger float values for internal processing. The whole point in working in floating point is so that DSP process (including mixing) has as much "room" to keep as much intact as is possible until the final conversion to fixed point (the bit depth that you either render to or send to your audio hardware.)

There few plugins that currently support 48/64 bit FP, so even if the engine is capable of streaming 48/64, it must be converted to 32 bit FP before being run through the DSP.

Don't get caught up in the hype. We've been doing 32 bit FP for a long time - ACID 1 and Vegas 1. You have to. 48/64 is just hype and I am sure the MI Mags will be jumping all over it. It isn't that big of a deal. Note that most "pro hardware" doesn't even work in floating point. They are entirely fixed point since most DSP chips in general use are still fixed point processors. Yes, there are FP DSP chips, but there are a lot more fixed point processors used everyday by all types of pros, pro-sumers, and hobbiest.

Peter