I understand how a higher bit depth is better for recording, processing etc.

But does it pertain to playback as well?
Does it make any difference if my output in windows settings is set to 16 or 24 bits?
I would guess playback quality depends on quality of source only, but why would there be an option to change it then? Thats why the question

 

Hello @jishnu, just leave everything as it is.

Because the audio device used for playback (e.g. sound card) must be operated in a defined format.
All audio sources (music, video, browser, system sounds etc.) are converted by Windows into this format to be able to play all sounds with the defined operating mode of the sound card.

Here it is only about the bit depth (e.g. 16Bit) and the sample rate (e.g. 44.1kHz).
Which data rate an audio file had before decoding is completely irrelevant, because it depends on the compression format. A sound card can only accept decoded PCM, whose characteristics are its bit depth and sample rate, to which the audio device must be set for playback. Otherwise Windows converts the audio stream accordingly. This can lead to quality losses.

"CD quality" with 16 bits at 44.1 kHz is the most common audio format. Stored directly it would be PCM in a .wav file. FLAC on the other hand compresses lossless like e.g. ZIP does it with document files. After unpacking I have the unchanged original again, in the case of audio this would be PCM again. With MP3 it is still 16 bit at 44.1 kHz. Only that with this compression parts of the audio file are omitted, where the algorithm means that one does not hear this omission. If you play an MP3 file, however, it becomes again a PCM data stream with 16 bits and 44.1 kHz. To store 192 kHz at 24 bit you need more storage space, that's why there is DVD-Audio or SACD. Something like this fits uncompressed on it.

Windows and also other operating systems can play back audio from different sources, even simultaneously. However, the DAC of the sound card can only decode one specified data stream at a time. That's why Windows has these default settings. If 16 bit at 48 kHz is set, every audio signal that does not correspond to this setting will be resampled.

Source/German: www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-54-20353.html

 

hi sam. dither can occur in both directions, up and down.

 

thanks for your answer. i turned off the option to take exclusive control of sound in asio driver in cubase. this allows me to send audio directly to obs without needing to use reastream or any other plugin, and i could play youtube/spotify audio along with jamming in cubase.
However, turning this off also resulted in cubase having a different sampling rate than whats set in windows, so i thought of changing windows' settings than change cubase's, which brought me to this question.

 

1.) Actually, Windows audio and the audio from the audio interface should be strictly separated. You set it once and then never again. The advantage is there are no conflicts and everything runs stable.

Most motherboards have an audio chip for example Realtec on the motherboard. This should be used to play audio with VLC or videos.
The USB audio interface for example, has its own ASIO driver, which you should use in your DAW. If possible 24 Bit / 44.1 Hz.

2.) To set your playback and recording devices from the Sound menu.

In earlier versions of Windows - or if you only need advanced settings -you need to use the Sound Control Panel. You'll also need to do this to change your default recording device, for example, to switch between different microphones - even in Windows 10's Anniversary Update.
To do this, right-click the speaker icon in the notification area. Select "Playback Devices" if you want to select your default speakers, or "Recording Devices" if you want to select your microphone.

On the Playback and Record tabs, select your devices. Right-click on a device and select "Set as Default Device" to make it your default audio device. If something is currently playing or recording on your system, it should switch to the device you selected as the default.

There is also a "Set as default communication device" option that you can use. Skype communication-like video and audio calls - use the communication device instead of your normal device. For example, this way you can use your computer's speakers for normal audio while the audio signal from a voice call is played on your headset.

The Sound panel controls the default devices in applications that honor your default settings. However, many individual applications also provide options that let you select playback and recording devices in that individual application's settings.

3.) Change Default Audio Playback Device from Sound Control Panel
www.tenforums.com/tutorials/102323-change-default-audio-playback-device-windows-10-a.html

 

Yes, i have changed the sample rate in windows to 44.1 from the default 48k, but decided against changing the bit depth, thanks for your answer

 

Do you have a picture of your settings ? Do you have an audio interface ? You should always work with 24-bit in your DAW.

 

The question is about having enough quality (bit depth) to listen without no loss in quality no matter the source. So for the Windows sound playback settings, leave it at 24 bits and all good.

 

Last edited: Apr 19, 2022