Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's -Sound Forge - PC

Subject:Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's Posted by: sk Date:11/26/2001 5:51:53 PM When a .wav file is ripped from a CD and then opened in SF 5.0, which is set to process in 24-bit mode, is there any sonic advantage to saving that file in 24 or 32 floating mode prior to burning it to a compilation CD? Am I correct in understanding that the file cannot be burned at 24 bit but has to be converted back to 41/16 before it can be burned to CD? sk
Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's Reply by: MyST Date:11/26/2001 5:57:28 PM You're correct, 16 bit for CD. From my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, is that the higher bit is to make sure you have the best quality sound when working on the song. Later.
Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's Reply by: sk Date:11/26/2001 8:32:36 PM That's what would make sense to me too. But I guess my question is, after having done that, how much actually gets transferred to the final .cda file once it gets converted back to 16 bits, and how much gets lost. I guess ultimately it comes down to the standard guideline of letting your ears determine that in the final analysis. But in terms of the additional 'expanding' to 24 bit then converting it back down again, I wonder how much if anything gets messed up just by going through that, rather than leaving it at 16 in the first place. According to my screen I'm processing at 24 bit, but I've been saving all the files prior to actually burning the CD at 16. It's just that when I saw the option to save at 24 that I started to wonder. So I tried one and could have sworn that it sounded better. But again, even if it did, once it gets converted back to 16, it won't have that full a sample rate. sk
Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's Reply by: MyST Date:11/26/2001 8:49:13 PM The project does sound better at 24 bit. That is why you want to work it at that bit rate, so you can hear all the detail that you are adding. The more precise the sound you have when working your project, the better it will be when returned to 16 bit. You WILL lose quality when you return it to 16 bit versus 24 bit. But if you would have worked it at 16 bit, you would have missed details at the root of your project, so the final CD version is sure to suffer. At least that was the logic the salesguy used to sell me my 300$ sound card, so please, go with it!! ;) My 2 cents.
Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's Reply by: sk Date:11/27/2001 7:06:32 PM Thanks, MySt. That makes perfect sense and was very helpful. SK

Subject:Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's

Posted by: sk

Date:11/26/2001 5:51:53 PM

When a .wav file is ripped from a CD and then opened in SF 5.0, which is set to process in 24-bit mode, is there any sonic advantage to saving that file in 24 or 32 floating mode prior to burning it to a compilation CD? Am I correct in understanding that the file cannot be burned at 24 bit but has to be converted back to 41/16 before it can be burned to CD?
sk

Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's

Reply by: MyST

Date:11/26/2001 5:57:28 PM

You're correct, 16 bit for CD. From my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, is that the higher bit is to make sure you have the best quality sound when working on the song.

Later.

Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's

Reply by: sk

Date:11/26/2001 8:32:36 PM

That's what would make sense to me too. But I guess my question is, after having done that, how much actually gets transferred to the final .cda file once it gets converted back to 16 bits, and how much gets lost. I guess ultimately it comes down to the standard guideline of letting your ears determine that in the final analysis. But in terms of the additional 'expanding' to 24 bit then converting it back down again, I wonder how much if anything gets messed up just by going through that, rather than leaving it at 16 in the first place. According to my screen I'm processing at 24 bit, but I've been saving all the files prior to actually burning the CD at 16. It's just that when I saw the option to save at 24 that I started to wonder. So I tried one and could have sworn that it sounded better. But again, even if it did, once it gets converted back to 16, it won't have that full a sample rate.
sk

Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's

Reply by: MyST

Date:11/26/2001 8:49:13 PM

The project does sound better at 24 bit. That is why you want to work it at that bit rate, so you can hear all the detail that you are adding. The more precise the sound you have when working your project, the better it will be when returned to 16 bit. You WILL lose quality when you return it to 16 bit versus 24 bit. But if you would have worked it at 16 bit, you would have missed details at the root of your project, so the final CD version is sure to suffer.
At least that was the logic the salesguy used to sell me my 300$ sound card, so please, go with it!! ;)

My 2 cents.

Subject:RE: Bit rates when ripping .wav files from CD's

Reply by: sk

Date:11/27/2001 7:06:32 PM

Thanks, MySt. That makes perfect sense and was very helpful.
SK