Studio Tour | Episode 06 | From Analog to Digital and back | 32 bit update

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Sometimes it happens. When I posted this episode a few days ago, Peter Paper commented that 32 bit recordings don't suffer from clipping, distortion and don't need a limiter. I wish that was true, and it turns out it IS! However, many people are still puzzled by it. It only applies to 32 bit analog to digital converters. If your 24 bit converter or analog source clips, there's nothing you can do about it. But 32 bit converters don't have a 0 dB digital brick wall. They just give you all the headroom you'll ever need, up to a range of 1500 dB (210 dB is the loudest possible sound on Earth and it will destroy a city).

I just can't write things that are not true on my channel while knowing about it. So I had to take the old version down and revisit the subject. 32 bit converters are hard to find, but it turned out my little Korg DSD recorder (from Episode 05) can also record 44.1K/32 bit float. So I could test it, and share it with you! The results are amazing. Indeed, it is true! So DSD is a cool 'nerd' feature, but I'll stick to PCM.

Spoiler:
In the blind A/B compare, A is the original 44.1/16 file, and B is the upscaled 768/24 bit version from the Chord Hugo TT2, analog XLR output and re-recorded with the Neve Master Buss Converter in 96K/24. There is a subtle difference in depth, placement, high-end and timing, but I doubt if you can hear it. The purpose of this set is to prepare a digital file for an analog audio chain, but I was wondering if the AD/DA conversion would already make a difference. Considering the price difference, I'd say no. Save your money for a Shared System - but maybe get that little Korg when you love to play loud.

00:00 Introduction
01:27 Analog overload vs digital clipping
02:48 Ruining a recording
03:28 Rupert Neve Designs Master Buss Converter - the Limiter.
04:32 32 bit analog to digital conversion
05:53 Thoughts about DSD
06:38 44.1K vs 768K re-record, blind A/B compare.
09:15 New studio progress update"