I really want to clarify this. I use Sonar (not that it makes a difference) and have it set at 64bit. I want to export this as an unmastered mix so I can master it however may times I may need to in the future. I like to master in a new project using Isotope Ozone, and have the Waves mastering plugins,... if that info is necessary...

Hi there!

I’m doing a mastering session in Digital Performer using variety of plugins and working at 48/32bit. Once done, I’ll take this to a to a very good facility for final stage where they arrange all the tracks in Pyramix, bounce it to 44/16 and create the professional CD master.

If a client brings you a 24 bit recording and only wants a mastered digital version of it, do you go ahead and dither it down to 16 bit even if they only want it for online distribution/not for CD?

I was about to upload my music to TuneCore who would then distribute it to iTunes, Spotify, etc. and noticed that they said to make sure my music was in 16 bit format. It was my understanding that 16 bit is just for burning CDs.

I've been using Ozone in my DAW as part of the mastering process and had dithering turned on and assumed that the rendered product was going to be 16 bit when selecting 16 bit in Ozone but after rendering a few test Waves of my album I noticed they're all still 24 bit.

When should I dither, and when should not?

What is the difference between the different algorithms? (such as rectangular, triangular, and the powers?

I've found that when a recording is made in an actual acoustic environment, dithering isn't necessary because the natural noise floor serves as a dither. Does anyone else share that view?

The process of adding low-level random noise to audio signals in order to reduce quantization noise in A/D converters. Dither is also applied during digital audio wordlength reduction (e.g., 20 to 16 bit conversion).

kinda wondering...

what happens when one dithers a (legal) 32-Bit FP file all the way down to 16-Bit w/ their favorite dither box ?