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Re: dither

Subject: Re: dither
From: John Campbell <>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 14:32:02 +1000
>Well, I figured it didn't matter before when I was running standard
>mics.
>
>But, I got a few low noise mics and need to understand dither more.
>In recording "faint field" sound with a low noise mic, should I be
>running "dither" on for edits?


No, dither is necessary at the output stage if you are reducing the 
number of bits in the digital audio signal.  The processing tasks you 
perform in a DAW - editing, mixing, and so on - will typically be 
occuring at 24 or 32-bit word lengths.  If you are digitally 
outputting the audio to a 16-bit destination, such as a Red Book CD 
or DAT, unless you apply dither the excess bits will be truncated, 
and this will probably create audible quantisation noise on low 
amplitude signals.  But if it is an analogue transfer, you would not 
use dither. So you don't need to get in a dither about dither.  Just 
use it when needed at this one point in the process.

John

>
>There appears to be a trade off on using this with little guidance as
>to when to use it and not for "faint field".
>
>Anybody know about this stuff here?
>I am just confused.
>
>
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