Re: MIDI files on IIgs?

[Gus <mportune@telerama.lm.com>]

pubpc1@library.ucla.edu wrote:
> diminish with increasing resolution.  There is still a difference,
> however slight, between 8 and 16, but between 16 and 24?  That's
> overkill.  If I weren't expecting it, I wouldn't even be able to
> pick out 8-bits.

I've worked in a DAW studio environment all my life, first as serious
hobby, and now as a career, so I think my ears are fine-tuned enough to
take a solid stance on this issue.  Granted, one can't make the
generalization that version A is better than version B ALL THE TIME.  It
greatly depends the material being recorded.  Today at work, I was
editing a shockwave file that had the sound of a roaring stadium crowd. 
The original file was 16-bit 44.1 mono.  Due to the acoustic nature of a
roaring crowd, THAT was overkill.  I dropped it to 8-bit 11 k, and it
made almost no difference.  Now, does that apply to EVERY circumstance? 
HELL NO.  Have you ever tried recording low analog pads at 8 bit? 
VOMIT.  16 bit works, but remember, we're not dealing with natural
acoustic sound here... these are pure, basic tones, that can always make
quantization flaws in digtal recording stand out BIG TIME.  When the
sounds are on this binary level, editing in 24-bit makes a world of
difference.  Example - A square wave bass line in a techno song... When
I tried to loop the wave in 16-bit, it was impossible to due, because
16-bits is not high enough a resolution to smoothly loop that cycle at
it's current pitch.  (if you look at it on an o-scope, you can even SEE
it)  Therefore there was a *pop* at every cycle of the loop.  Solution? 
By entering the 24-bit domain, the resolution is finer, allowing the
cycle to loop smoothly.  If you don't believe me, then why are all the
DAW software/hardware companies FINALLY getting a clue and supporting 20
and 24-bit resolution and 96KHz recording formats now?  The industry
ears have it.

> point.  At 30fps, your eyes would have reached their threshold and
> persistance of vision will take over.  You can increase the fps
> further to 60fps, but you will see absolutely no difference in
> smoothness compared to 30fps.

Yes, I know.  And I agree, the same analogy applies to sample rate...
but your ears are capable of discerning FAR higher rates than you allow
yourself to believe.  I certainly don't draw the line at 16 bit.

/--- Matt Portune -------------- "Awaiting: GS/TCP, & Facelift" ---\
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