VST hosts vs TDM vs LE... RTAS vs VST etc..

[Rekko11]

I know a professional producer who claims that Pro Tools "sounds better" because its internal calculations are at 48 bit fixed point, compared to 32 floating point in most DAW host programs eg: Cubase.

At first I was skeptical, because most people on forums seem to claim all host sequencer/ audio programs are equal in sound quality in the digital domain.

However, I found some technical articles on the net which confirmed that 48 point is superior sonically, especially when making LOW frequency calculations.. ie: BASS creation/ manipulation.

I also wrote to Sony tech support, who confirmed that their TDM plugs operate at a 48 bit, and therefore sound superior.

I have also found another thread on this topic..

"By the way, the TDM plugins that process on the motorola chip are 48bit fixed internally. There's a sutble audible difference between native and TDM, in favour of TDM."

However, the producer guy I knows actually uses Pro Tools LE in his home studio set-up..

So one question I have is "Is there any difference between using a VST platform and Pro Tools LE in terms sonic quality of plugs??" - especially to anyone who has actually used both platforms...

Also, is this argument even relevant in the days of 64 bit processing?? What hosts actually support 64 bit processing?? If a host doesn't support 64 bit processing, but a plug claims to operate at 64 bits, will audio still be processed at this bit rate?

Can anyone reccomend any good VSTs / plug-ins that operate at 64 bits?

Will they work in Cubase 2.0 (my current host)?

Should I switch platform for ultimate sonic quality?

Anyone who can shed any light on this topic, please inform...

[Alan]

I don't have time to get in a lengthy explanation about this(don't worry,plenty here will),but I personally prefer floating point over fixed due to flexibilty and I hear a slight edge in certain VSTi's and plugs over other hosts including PTHD/LE at the moment with Sonars internal 64 bit prosessing,but nothing major between any of them,certainly not enough to steer me to one platform or another.Cakewalks Sonar 5 currently will process internally at 64 bit on a 32 bit OS,and the 64 bit version has bit bridge to enable non 64 bit plugs to run on a 64 bit OS. Steinbergs Cubase announced recently a 64 bit version as well as the new VST spec.I think the new Digidesign Accel cards might process at 64 bit fixed,but I'm not certain.

[scum]

32 bits 64 bits dont forget youre a musician - do some f**king noise and f**k these numbers, remember f**king sex pistols

[lex_strooder]

first of all... dont even think about this if you are not an all golden ear... some like timestrech in live and release a lot of music... but is it the best... no, but it is well incorporated into the great and fast gui and works well.

now to the bits and bites... i found sawstudio to be the best "audio-engine" so far... protools are second but thats is only because i like the outcome of the final mix when i work with them... its also about pan laws (it what most ppl think is the float vs fixed sound comparison)... my advice it to get a host that you can work fast in and forget about the details...

cheers

[Angus_FX]

48-bit fixed point is measurably better for some calculations than 32-bit FP, but most high-quality plug-ins use 64-bit FP internally (with 32-bit interconnect) these days anyways. PT TDM plugs use 48-bit internal precision and 24-bit interconnects.

64-bit FP is definitely the way to go.