Hey guys,
i hope someone can enlight me how the windows audio settings affect the bit depth settings of the DAW/Audio Interface. I got a ZOOM UAC-2 USB Audio interface which supports if i am not totally wrong a max bit depth of 24bit like the most of the interfaces do. The UAC-2 is set as standard device for all audio running through windows.When i now open the windows audio settings i can choose 32bit/44.1Khz for recording and for playback.How is that possible when the interface only supports max 24bit? Maybe sombody can explain please.It´s totally confusing.
Windows Audio Settings
Re: Windows Audio Settings
The 32 bit will be a floating point format option. Pretty pointless recording in that format as it will be converted to floating point within your DAW (which may be 32-bit floating point or 64-bit floating point depending on the DAW)
The 32-bit format is a 24-bit value with an 8-bit mantissa (to show a power of 2 multiplication value). So you'll end up with the standard 24-bit value plus 8 bits set to zero (as 2 to the power of 0 is by definition, one).
With 32-bit float, you aren't getting any extra bits, just the same bits represented in a different format. And it takes up 33% more space than a standard 24 bit value.
It makes sense within a DAW where you might be multiplying by say 1,000,000 and then dividing by 1,000,201, but not as a basic file recording format with a standard 24-bit A/D chip.
The 32-bit format is a 24-bit value with an 8-bit mantissa (to show a power of 2 multiplication value). So you'll end up with the standard 24-bit value plus 8 bits set to zero (as 2 to the power of 0 is by definition, one).
With 32-bit float, you aren't getting any extra bits, just the same bits represented in a different format. And it takes up 33% more space than a standard 24 bit value.
It makes sense within a DAW where you might be multiplying by say 1,000,000 and then dividing by 1,000,201, but not as a basic file recording format with a standard 24-bit A/D chip.
Reliably fallible.
Re: Windows Audio Settings
Yes,i get that point.And i know that Cubase works internal with 32 or 64 bit depending on choice.But for me the question is, why can i choose 32 bit on windows soundsettings when the soundcard (interface) does not support it? As i said it´s set as standard soundcard for all audio on this computer.
Re: Windows Audio Settings
Because Windows can convert 24-bit from the soundcard into a 32-bit floating point file. It imports 24-bits, adds on some zeros in the right file format and you've got a 32-bit floating point file. It takes no time at all for it to do that compared to the time in-between buffer reads, so it's not loading the computer up except by a very small fraction of a percent to do it.
Why it gives you the option, I don't know, but sometimes these things are simply there because they can be done.
Why it gives you the option, I don't know, but sometimes these things are simply there because they can be done.
Reliably fallible.