Hi everyone,
I'm organizing a compilation CD, and most contributors have been sending me 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio. Our mastering engineer just told us that he would prefer audio files to be 24-bit, 44.1 (or 88.2) kHz, with 6 dB of headroom.
While contributors will send me files in those specs if possible, I imagine that I'll have to convert some files (like those created in the 16-bit-only Garageband) to his preferred specs.
My question is the following: is my Cubase SX 1.06 sufficient for such audio file conversion, or should I spend nearly $300 for an academic version of Wavelab? Do Cubase and Wavelab use the same audio-processing engine, or is Wavelab more advanced? I also have Goldwave; is their conversion engine of the same caliber as Steinberg's?
Of course, for those unable to meet the specs, I'll also give the mastering engineer the original 16-bit files as a backup. I just want to save him time and provide the specs he requested.
Any advice is appreciated.
Ben
Upconverting from 16-bit to 24-bit with Cubase SX?
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- KVRer
- 21 posts since 25 Aug, 2004
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- KVRAF
- 16890 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
If you don't have the 24bit source files, it's no use you convert the 16bits files. You only make them twice as large, and the mastering engineer can do it anyway, and he is not fooled into thinking he has files with lots of details (which arent't there even if you convert them). You're not saving him any time.
Best is to ask the contributors to send the 24bits or 32bits UNMASTERED versions again.
And yes, your Cubase version is up to this task, and so is any other free audio editor.
Best is to ask the contributors to send the 24bits or 32bits UNMASTERED versions again.
And yes, your Cubase version is up to this task, and so is any other free audio editor.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 21 posts since 25 Aug, 2004
Thanks. I don't want to "fool" the mastering engineer, but just make the files as easy and convenient as possible for him to work with.
And yes, I am asking contributors to send me 24-bit unmastered versions of their tracks if they are able to do so.
And yes, I am asking contributors to send me 24-bit unmastered versions of their tracks if they are able to do so.
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- KVRAF
- 8749 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
Likewise - I assume he means he wants the originals rendered in 24 bit. Not simply converted by you - and as mentioned - thoroughly pointless.
It's a minor point, but needs to be mentioned though...you're the customer, he's the provider. If he point blank refuses to work with 16bit, then that's his right to do so. Then you find another engineer. But if he wants your custom - he rather needs to work with what you provide him, and simply advise you that those results may be less than perfect as compared to 24bit or whatever. You are the paying customer, and it's your needs that are more important than his if he wants the business.
It depends how he's mentioned it to you. If he simply advised you he can get better results with 24bit etc...he's doing a good job. If he got the hump and all snotty and demanded 24bit - he ain't worth your business.
For those that (for whatever reasons) may not be able to provide you with 24bit originals...you just need to get the 16bit ones to the engineer. It's almost no quicker for you to convert to 24bit than it is for him. It would be a silly thing to do.
If you like that particular engineer, then just do all you can to get 24bit originals from the artists, and those that you can't, you can't. If it compromises your position, say for example you have a deadline, and you don't have time to chase all the artists up to get 24bit versions...then he has to work with 16bit. And if he's any good, he will still be able to get decent masters done. They may not be quite as good as from 24bit sources, but he should still get the job done to a reasonable quality.
It's a minor point, but needs to be mentioned though...you're the customer, he's the provider. If he point blank refuses to work with 16bit, then that's his right to do so. Then you find another engineer. But if he wants your custom - he rather needs to work with what you provide him, and simply advise you that those results may be less than perfect as compared to 24bit or whatever. You are the paying customer, and it's your needs that are more important than his if he wants the business.
It depends how he's mentioned it to you. If he simply advised you he can get better results with 24bit etc...he's doing a good job. If he got the hump and all snotty and demanded 24bit - he ain't worth your business.
For those that (for whatever reasons) may not be able to provide you with 24bit originals...you just need to get the 16bit ones to the engineer. It's almost no quicker for you to convert to 24bit than it is for him. It would be a silly thing to do.
If you like that particular engineer, then just do all you can to get 24bit originals from the artists, and those that you can't, you can't. If it compromises your position, say for example you have a deadline, and you don't have time to chase all the artists up to get 24bit versions...then he has to work with 16bit. And if he's any good, he will still be able to get decent masters done. They may not be quite as good as from 24bit sources, but he should still get the job done to a reasonable quality.
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Chuck E. Jesus Chuck E. Jesus https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=108246
- R.I.P.
- 7301 posts since 23 May, 2006 from in between a cornfield and a river
i hope this isn't too OT for the thread, but it's got me thinking...
the digi mixer i use as a front end only does 44.1 and 48, i don't think it makes sense to do 48, the gain is slight...
however, it will do 16 bit or 24 bit...i always assumed that 24 bit would take too much of a bite out of my cpu and i wasn't sure i could hear the difference...but it seems most folk use 24 bit, and i do undersatnd the gain you get, even if you end up with a cd final...
but how much of a bite does 24 bit really take on the cpu, tracks, etc...is it more if you have audio tracks vs. vst for example? i never really understood that part of it tbh....
the digi mixer i use as a front end only does 44.1 and 48, i don't think it makes sense to do 48, the gain is slight...
however, it will do 16 bit or 24 bit...i always assumed that 24 bit would take too much of a bite out of my cpu and i wasn't sure i could hear the difference...but it seems most folk use 24 bit, and i do undersatnd the gain you get, even if you end up with a cd final...
but how much of a bite does 24 bit really take on the cpu, tracks, etc...is it more if you have audio tracks vs. vst for example? i never really understood that part of it tbh....
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- KVRAF
- 16890 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
44 or 48 doesn't matter that much.
All the VST hosts process the audio internally at 32bits.
You know what, dig a bit in the forum archive and do some reading on the million threads we had about this. One of the most recent ones: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150354
All the VST hosts process the audio internally at 32bits.
You know what, dig a bit in the forum archive and do some reading on the million threads we had about this. One of the most recent ones: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150354
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 21 posts since 25 Aug, 2004
Thanks very much for sending your thoughts and advice.
This particular engineer is very professional, and a good guy. He stated everything in terms of requests. He asked that I should provide the 24-bit files "if possible" and sample rates other than 44.1 and 88.2 kHz require more time to process correctly. All very true, I'm sure.
We have contributors from all over the world (Russia, Sweden) with various equipment and varying Internet equipment. So I think it's inevitable that we'll have a mixture of files.
Ben
This particular engineer is very professional, and a good guy. He stated everything in terms of requests. He asked that I should provide the 24-bit files "if possible" and sample rates other than 44.1 and 88.2 kHz require more time to process correctly. All very true, I'm sure.
We have contributors from all over the world (Russia, Sweden) with various equipment and varying Internet equipment. So I think it's inevitable that we'll have a mixture of files.
Ben
