16 or 24 bit?

[Mjolniir]

This may be a dumb question, but I can't find anything about it in a forum search or in the documentation.

Does Riffworks automatically record in 24 bit? I use an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and I was just curious since there are no settings that I can find to specify this. I know that it mixes to 16-bit wav files, but is it recording 24?

[vad1er]

No you have to set up your audio interface to function in 24 bit default is 16 bit..

[Mjolniir]

That's interesting because my saoundcard does not give the option in its controls. It is entirely up to the application.

[Mjolniir]

OK, so I broke out my M-Audio Omnistudio USB which DOES give you a 24 bit setting in the control panel. Everything works fine, but out of curiousity I exported a riff and broke it open in intelliriffer. The wav file was 16-bit which leads me to believe that R/W is recording internally at 16 bit regardless of settings. It could also be something that intelliriffer does when it pulls the wav out. It's hard to say.

That being said, R/W still sounds kick ass. I can only think it would get even better if it was working at 24 bit.

[blue4u]

I'm almost certain that RiffWorks does record in 16 bit. Hopefully in the next upgrade we will see that change to 24 bit!

[michelle]

From a conversation with engineering:

RiffWorks accepts 16 and 24 bit data on the input. The amp models receive the data in this format. Then the layer files are written to disk as 16 bit data currently to save space. All effects processing and mixing is done in 32 bit floating point. Mix to Riff tracks are stored in 32 bit floating point so that no loss of resolution occurs on bounced tracks.

Saving the layers in 24 bit will double the size of your song session files. If/when we do add 24 bit "recording" it will still default to 16 bit, so you'll have to change it to 24 in the audio setup panel.

This would especially be nice after we add the export feature.

[Rotund]

Export feature? (which I assume means export riff layers as complete tracks) I am looking forward to that and it appears from this simple explanation of bit depth that the Mix to Feature could use some overhaual (i.e. you don't have to mix from only the songlayer anymore.) If my assumption is incorrect what manufacture is Sonoma focused on?

[Mjolniir]

Thanks Michelle, it is good to know whats going on in there. I have to say that I feel I am getting great sound out of T4 regardless and I am going to buy standard as soon as I can spare the cash.

That being said, 24 bit options in recording and mix would definitely give an added edge to those of us who want to mix/master in outside application, the headroom would be nice.

Again, thanks for finding that out!

[blue4u]

Careful Michelle! Don't tease like that

[hardattack]

I dont care if my song files are 10 gig a song. 24 bit sounds way better than 16 to me and is worth the trade off. That is if my computer will handle it anyway. But this is coming from some one who still buys vinyl because nothing still sounds better.