[InCreD1Ble]

Hi,

I am using a Linear Phase Equaliser VST plugin. My output is coaxial SPDIF to a Yulong DA8 DAC which is capable of 32-bit 384 kHz playback. My audio files are mostly mp3's (44.1 kHz and 48 kHz) and some Red Book lossless files.

I have read from here (https://www.audiorecording.me/upsampling-audio-importance-and-methods-in-audio-mixingmastering.html) that upsampling your audio files before mastering/mixing could be beneficial.

Now, I am using the DSP plugin for playback, but because I am using a VST plugin during playback time, wouldn't that be identical to mastering/mixing, or am I missing something here? Do I upsample my output from software before sending it to the DAC (which will oversample it anyway)?

 

[PaganDL]

Hi @InCreD1Ble,

Honestly, subjectively & personally, the short answer is no.

But saying that, it comes down to what you can hear &/or the mixing/mastering engineer who created those audio files you listened to did in the first place during recording.

Upsampling & Oversampling are also quite different, I suggest looking up what that difference actually is...

Keep in mind, in a pro engineer's workflow, upsampling if said work isn't already of high quality playback, not format, is an extra step to several steps, so realistically, if they only have a certain amount of time to do a track, or part of, never mind even the whole album, it will still take up their time which they could be doing something else with.

I would also suggest you look at other sources for confirmation on this & other audio related info, eg Sound On Sound, Warren Huart / Produce Like a Pro, David Gnozzi / Mixbus TV, Production Advice / Ian Shepherd
These are usually my go to sources for audio info, especially related to Pro Audio.

Plugins in general, as far as I am aware, especially the ones you mention, do not upsample your source, per say as really all Plug ins do is add extra functionality to sound alteration by either compression, distortion, noise gate, DSP, etc & are used in place &/or conjuction with hardware EQ, Compressors, Noise Gates, etc...

As a final note, Mastering/Mixing is not as simple as tweaking said sound, otherwise everyone would be doing it, as it takes a certain skill set, experience & ear to do so.
I suggest you look up what a Mastering/Mixing Engineer does & see whether that fits into anything you are actually doing.

Feel free to ask more if you need.

Hope you have a great day !

 

[sehnsucht]

 

[Roseval]

The article leaves me a bit puzzled
If one is processing 16 bits hence an integer, you do have to deal with a substantial quantization error. If you use 24 or 32, you don’t have that problem.
So I wonder if this got anything to do with upsampling (increasing the sample rate). Just increasing the bit depth might be sufficient.

I don’t expect the DAC to truncate to 16 bits internally
Hence send the audio at the maximum bit length supported to the VST and send its output at max bit length to the DAC.

 

[gregorio]

[1] I am using a Linear Phase Equaliser VST plugin.
[2] I have read from here (https://www.audiorecording.me/upsampling-audio-importance-and-methods-in-audio-mixingmastering.html) that upsampling your audio files before mastering/mixing could be beneficial.
[3] Now, I am using the DSP plugin for playback, but because I am using a VST plugin during playback time, wouldn't that be identical to mastering/mixing, or am I missing something here?

1. So a relatively straight forward linear process.

2. There may have been some truth in that article 15 years or so ago. Some non-linear plugin processes (particularly modelled vintage compressors or guitar amplifiers for example) could benefit from higher than 44/48kHz sample rates. However, from about the mid 2000's such non-linear plugins upsample internally, generate the required (IM) distortion products and then downsample again, maintaining the generated distortion products within the audible range (below 20kHz). So, for quite a few years it has been unnecessary to manually upsample for these types of plugins.

3. Yes, you are "missing something here", in fact two things, as explained above: Firstly, it's not identical to mastering/mixing, you are just using an EQ plugin (which is a linear process) and Secondly, even if you were using a non-linear processor, such as a modelled vintage compressor/limiter, it still wouldn't be necessary to upsample, the plugin would do that internally itself.

G