24bit to 16bit, what is the best way to do it ?!

[HeadLover]

So
Related to the topic of 24vs16, if I have a file on my PC who is 24bit (FLAC or what ever lossless), and I have a DAC like the PICO DAC or what ever DAC that can accept only 16bit, what will be the best way for transfer this music from my PC (FOOBAR2000 is my player) and with out losing SQ ?
OR losing the less SQ ?!

 

[CDBacklash]

If its a 24bit rip from an SACD or similar, the best way would be to have foobar (for example) to output a dithered 16bit sound.
if its a 24bit rip from a CD, I think you could just rerip it at 16 bit (because thats what cds are).

 

[HeadLover]

If I download a 24/96 from LINN ? or having a Vnil riped to 24/96 ?
I mean that I have only the FLAC files and they are 24/96, what now ?

 

[CDBacklash]

If you want your PC to most of the processing, change output to a dithered 16bit output. What media player are you using?

 

[HeadLover]

foobar2000

 

[CDBacklash]

file -> preferences -> open playback -> select output -> output data format 16bit (tick dithered)
and then set the master mixing to 16 bit 44.1 khz in windows and you should be good to go.

 

[leeperry]

what I'd do is 32 float processing in ffdshow(to EQ) and then output 16 integer, and enable "light" noise shaping...it sounds great ^^

sounds better than foobar on my setup(bitperfect MME)

 

[grawk]

Much more significant than how you get from 24 to 16 bits, which is just simple dithering, is how you get from 96 to 44, which is resampling. Try the various resampling options you have, then listen to the results, and go with the one that sounds best.

 

[jcx]

most DACs will be flexible on bit rate - at least 48K as well as 44.1
integer decimation requires less computing horsepower

also more bit depth maybe available - spdif is actually 20 bit

 

[CDBacklash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Much more significant than how you get from 24 to 16 bits, which is just simple dithering, is how you get from 96 to 44, which is resampling. Try the various resampling options you have, then listen to the results, and go with the one that sounds best.

oh yeah, forgot to mention that

. Should mostly be fine though

 

[panda]

i am interested in what the sound editing gurus suggest for resampling files. i need to make 24/96 into 16/48... would appreciate advice on achieving the best way. to use foobar via resampler plug in and 16bit dithering is the most simple, just wondering if there is a better sounding method.

sound forge, adobe audition, etc???

 

[CDBacklash]

Does the foobar DSP have an antialias filter? When sampling down its possible to alias sounds that should not be.

 

[Acix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda /img/forum/go_quote.gif i am interested in what the sound editing gurus suggest for resampling files. i need to make 24/96 into 16/48... would appreciate advice on achieving the best way. to use foobar via resampler plug in and 16bit dithering is the most simple, just wondering if there is a better sounding method. sound forge, adobe audition, etc???

Wavelab...

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acix /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wavelab...

...that's what I use.

.

 

[Rempert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda /img/forum/go_quote.gif i am interested in what the sound editing gurus suggest for resampling files. i need to make 24/96 into 16/48... would appreciate advice on achieving the best way. to use foobar via resampler plug in and 16bit dithering is the most simple, just wondering if there is a better sounding method. sound forge, adobe audition, etc???

If you're looking for a really cheap solution, you could try out R8brain Free or SoX. But I'd guess even with foobar's resampler on ultra mode, we are getting to a certain point where it takes the "golden ear" to hear the pros and cons of the different options.