Originally Posted by Jim Offerman

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1. Do you record in 24-bit? If your audio interface supports 24-bit recording, you should enable it. You get considerably more "headroom" in a 24-bit recording (as opposed to the standard 16-bit), which in turn enables you to record with more gain. This means you can create a bigger difference between the signal (i.e. your voice) and the noise floor... ergo, you get more clarity in your recordings.


Jim, I don't know if it's only your explanation that is flawed, or if it's also your understanding, but this is simply untrue - more bits does not equate to more headroom or gain at all. The number of bits has to do with resolution (how fine you can slice the gain), not gain itself.

It can be confusing since once you switch to 24-bits, you can generally record at a LOWER volume and therefore not worry as much about keeping the signal level high above the noise floor. The apparancy is that you then have more headroom because you're recording at a lower level. [lower level = greater peaks = apparent increased headroom]

All digital systems max their gain when the signal becomes all 1's, but 24 1's is not louder than 16 1's. They both represent Zero db in a digital system. You can't go over "zero db" in any digital system.

You ARE right in that there are very few instances where recording in 16 bits is preferable to recording at 24 bits, so switching to 24-bits is almost always a good idea, it's just not for more gain or headroom.


Larry
http://www.audibleresponse.com
http://www.myspace.com/larrywilliamsproductions
...now writing/producing with Natascha: http://www.myspace.com/nataschacorrigan