Sampling sources - The importance of Bit Depth

[helloitsmeagain]

I've been very conscious recently to make sure that everything I use is 24 bit depth but i'm finding it pretty limiting in the sense that it stops me from using exactly what I want to. I mean, sh*t, YT is a veritable goldmine.

The question I have is, how important is Bit Depth in production?

I've seen guys like Conor Dalton talk about how, from a mastering perspective, you should never use less than 16 Bit for anything. But on the other hand, I've seen stuff like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcglDzT-HlQ&

Which is sampled from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4vItkoMv2Y&

Now, i know, there is no right way and wrong way with EDM, but I'd like to get some input on this... Can I just run off and sample an 8 bit recording of ants humping?

[Lost to the Void]

If it sounds right, if it fits the piece you are working on, if it works......... use it.

[gabe DM]

ok Steve but what is the rule, the standard?
I mean when we produce, what bit rate should we set the project to?
what bit rate and depth shoud we export track for mastering? can you explain it to me so I can standardize my production.

thanks in advance

[Mattias]

Work at 32 bit float, dont use DAWs shitty internal dithering, if you render the file to 24 bit use a proper dither plug on the master set to 24 bit!

[gabe DM]

thanks mattias

[Lost to the Void]

For mastering export a 24bit (I covered this already in the mastering post) file, 44hz is fine but you can export at higher sample rate if you wish.
Monitor at 24bit
Get a good dither plugin for exporting, so you don`t rely on the dither of your DAW, or use no dither.
this is an amazing dither plug
http://www.sonalksis.com/ultimated.htm

[Wiu]

I only tend to sample speech and FX really (from varying sources). I find for this kind of stuff the original quality is unimportant (within reason).

A lot of the old samplers were only 8-14 bit (correct me if I'm wrong there), and how many old tunes still sound awesome to this day that were made with them? Hell, the 909's hi-hat and cymbal samples are only 6 bit.

[Mattias]

Ultimate-D Rocks

[Mattias]

I only tend to sample speech and FX really (from varying sources). I find for this kind of stuff the original quality is unimportant (within reason).

A lot of the old samplers were only 8-14 bit (correct me if I'm wrong there), and how many old tunes still sound awesome to this day that were made with them? Hell, the 909's hi-hat and cymbal samples are only 6 bit.

Definitively right. Doesn't matter what bit the samples you use is in the project (as you say original quality doesn't matter much). Its not about that. Even when using low-bit material in a project, keep the project bit depth as high as possible (24bit render / 32bit internal) to make sure your plugins & DAW work at their optimal etcetera.

[eggchips]

I've seen guys like Conor Dalton talk about how, from a mastering perspective, you should never use less than 16 Bit for anything. But on the other hand, I've seen stuff like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcglDzT-HlQ&

Which is sampled from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4vItkoMv2Y&

Ha ha, what a cheeky mother€€king genius, sampling somebody's Youtube demo video and making it into a killer dub step tune.

[chrisso]

I truly never think about bit depth.
I have both Logic and Ableton set to 24 bit - set and leave.
I'm importing sounds and samples from all over the place and I'm happy with the basic sound quality of my music.
As others are saying, a crappy bit depth can be a real bonus.
I spend more time trying to remove the gloss from things than worrying about the basic audio quality of my DAW. Running things through primitive analog circuits in vintage synths, or through dirty sounding 1970's outboard fx.

[disparate]

I export at 24 bit. There might be some stuff in there that's captured from old samplers or deliberately bitcrushed but for the overall master I think you want maximum fidelity. So even that 8-bit crunch will shine through, if that doesn't seem like too much of a paradox

Interesting to see someone from Singapore quoting Conor there, he's a guy I've chatted to a couple of times and see on nights out sometimes and he shares a studio building with my mate, I forget his services are pretty well respected worldwide

[helloitsmeagain]

Interesting to see someone from Singapore quoting Conor

saw him in youtube video posted on this site. honestly, never heard of the guy before i watched it but he seems to know what he's talking about.

[Lost to the Void]

I've seen guys like Conor Dalton talk about how, from a mastering perspective, you should never use less than 16 Bit for anything. But on the other hand, I've seen stuff like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcglDzT-HlQ&

Which is sampled from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4vItkoMv2Y&

Ha ha, what a cheeky mother€€king genius, sampling somebody's Youtube demo video and making it into a killer dub step tune.

Took with no credit, Zomby has done this before but got outed and other person got writers credits in the end, what a C**T

[mainst09]

Mattias since you are an expert of this,how does this thing bit depht works? what is the connection of this with samples?

Cheers

[Lost to the Void]

Bit depth is all about headroom and available dynamic range.
this explains bit depth pretty well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth

You generally are better off recording samples at 24bit