VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

So I was playing with my VST plugins on my Cubase SE3, and I came across the "UV22" by Apogee. I couldn't hear that it made any difference while recording. Then I researched (googled) the thing and read that it's a dithering device: it takes 24 bit recordings and converts them smoothly into 16bit (CD, internet etc.) recordings.

Now I hear the difference. It's not radically different, but it's certainly smoother, a touch more focused, and there's less noise!

My question is, what gear of this nature do you use for exporting/converting and what would you recommend?

thanks.

Brett Mason · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:48 am Post subject:

Gosh, oh where do I begin? First, I'm glad to find another Cubaser. I'm running the LE that came with my Firebox. There's a number of plug-ins, but UV22 is not among them. Is there somewhere you can go on the web and download this (at no charge?), or do you have to buy it somehow? Also, assume you're recording in 24-bit for the higher sample rate. I'm using 16 when recording. Is there that much of a difference? As far as conversion, I'm using a simple run o' the mill mp3 converter, but I've always wondered what bitrate to use, especially for pay-to-play audition submissions. Is 128 enough? Jes' tryin to start a dialogue...
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Brett

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sdelgo · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:05 pm Post subject:

Try this link boys.

http://www.tweakheadz.com/16_vs_24_bit_audio.htm

Steve
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Brett Mason · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

I am so not worthy............

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Thanks Brett and Steve (good link)

Okay, the UV22 doesn't come with the LE, you have to upgrade to SE3 (via 1-800 number only in the US which is found at the Steinberg website), which isn't mucho dinero, ($80 after tax?) has a nicer audio engine and allows you to run five plugins simultaneously instead of the two that are allowed on LE.

SE3 will be a bigger drain on your computer, keep this in mind. However, I'm able to run it fine even on my pedestrian laptop as long as I
1.) disable my wireless internet.
2.) disable simultaneous waveform generation during recording.
3.) do not engage plugins while recording.

Steve's absolutely ought to record in 24bit when possible. The difference is substantial even after you down convert. I mean, if you needed something at resolution below 44/16, you'd still want to record at 44/16 first, right? (Although you might EQ the daylights out of it).

Here's the bad news...The Firebox is a sham (I have it too) and it has recently been exposed as being a fraudulent 24bit/96K interface. It only records at 24/48K and then doubles the 48K leading to an impure fake 96k.

The embarrasing truth:
http://www.presonus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1834

The good news is that hopefully they will have a firmware dowloadable fix for it in a month.

The doubleplusgoodnews is that, hey, the 48k/24bit works fine, and sounds great, but if you have the Apogee UV22 plugin, the conversion to 44/16 wav files is much sweeter. If you're only converting to mp3s right now, the UV22 won't come into play.

128 is the highest rate for mp3 mono, while 256 and higher are just the stereo rates for mp3 since it holds twice the info.