i'm bored to learn render quality things regarding audio

it seems there's a range of export/render settings to choose from which can affect the audio being exported

seems too scientific and i guess it can take many renders and checks how does it sound etc

does it really make that much of a difference?

i usually just render with whats there....as first option

(sample rate, dither etc etc)

 

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 2, 2025

content farming about the mythical "finished track"...

rendering a whole finished mix from multitrack or stems takes too long to do it over and over.
so I render it exactly how it is. No change in session bit depth or sample rate. reimport it. pile on more plugins. conversions to final format.
the end.

 

I dont get what you mean
are you talking about the options like sample rate, dither, ..., etc?

 

yes! i'll add it on post

 

Mindset Shift: Boredom often stems from a lack of engagement or purpose. Try reframing your approach by viewing audio rendering as an opportunity to create something unique. Embrace challenges as stepping stones to mastery.

 

Last edited: Apr 2, 2025

You should use dither, if you render down the bit rate from 24 bit down to 16 bit for example. If the bit rate stays the same, you don't need to dither. If you render to a lower bit depth than your project has been set up with, there will be quantization distortion. Not every 24bit value has a 16 bit equivalent, which means you are introducing distortion when rendering to a lower bit depth. Dithering can help minimize the distortion you introduce. There are different dither algorithms, but the standard one should be good.

 

Last edited: Apr 2, 2025

https://www.digido.com/portfolio-item/dither/

 

I only know one rule: 24dB/48 kHz --> Export mix --> FLAC or MP3!

 

You're overthinking it. Just press "render". Eventually you might learn what needs to be done differently, only then adjust.

If there is a rule it's only this: only dither when it's the absolutely final output. Never process dithered audio further (encoding to lossy being the sole exception.)

 

thats a really good one

 

Ok, I read there:
" First, must ensure that our DAW is high resolution (has very low distortion at low levels) and can be bit-transparent when called upon. Bit-transparent means that the output is identical to the source, from the most significant to the least significant bit, that the DAW does not increase or decrease the source wordlength.
Good Advice
Once you’ve verified your workstation is bit-transparent"
___________________________

1.How do I know if it's so (my DAW is bit-transparent)?
2. They try to prove that different DAWs have different sound?

 

To determine if your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is bit-transparent, you can perform the following steps:

Bit Transparency Test
- Use the original file: Select a WAV file with a known sample rate (e.g., 48 kHz) and no effects or processing.

Record and Playback: Have your DAW play the file and record simultaneously.
Ensure the sample rate of the DAW and the audio interface match to avoid resampling.

Phase Inversion Test:

- Import the original file and the recorded file into the DAW.
- Invert the phase of one of the two files.
- Play both files in sync. If the DAW is bit-transparent, both files will completely cancel each other out (no audible signal remains).

Check for Signal Changes:

If a residual signal remains, this indicates that the DAW altered the signal during processing (e.g., through resampling or internal effects).

Additional Notes

- Bit transparency means that the DAW plays the audio signal exactly as it was input, without any additional modifications.
- Some media players or DAWs can automatically perform resampling or level adjustments, which affects bit transparency.

You can use this procedure to verify whether your DAW is bit transparent.

 

Some DAWs are known for being bit-transparent, meaning they process audio data without unwanted changes.
Here are a few examples:

DAWs with Bit-Transparent Features

Steinberg Cubase
Cubase is one of the leading DAWs and offers precise audio processing.
It is often considered the industry standard and is known for its bit-transparent processing.

Avid Pro Tools
Pro Tools is particularly popular in professional studios and is known for its accurate audio processing, including bit-transparent features.

Apple Logic Pro X
Logic Pro X is a popular DAW for Mac users and offers robust audio processing that supports bit transparency.

Studio One (Presonus)
Studio One is also known for its high-quality audio processing and is considered by many to be bit-transparent.

Reaper
Reaper is a flexible and affordable DAW valued for its bit-transparent audio processing.

Ableton Live
Ableton Live is primarily designed for electronic music production and live performance, but also offers bit-transparent audio processing.

These DAWs are known for their ability to precisely process audio data without inadvertently altering it.

 

This is my new meditation koan

 

There's no reason to do anything to it. If you export it cleanly and unchanged, you can do whatever you want with the wav file by reimporting it. Yes, you end up with an extra file out of the deal. So what. You get an extra chance to make it sound better, bring it up closer to your target volume, narrow your bass more with a mono-maker, use a Match EQ to references, hit it with your high end limiter or clipper at some crazy oversampling rate, dither; anything you want. You have the entire CPU back to use on one file, and as many tries as you want. Or you can send it clean to someone who knows what they are doing for more work.

People seem to think there is some upside to bouncing completed tracks directly out of their DAW project session. The benefit is one less file. Buy a bigger capacity SSD.

 

Are you saying that these DAWs sound better?
Hmm, on some music sites even discussing such a topic immediately gets banned

 

It's not about sound but about mathematics.

"Bit-transparent" in the context of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) refers to the ability of the software to process audio without altering the original bit depth and sample rate of the audio signal. When a DAW is bit-transparent, it means that the audio is passed through the system without any unintended changes, such as distortion, noise, or loss of quality.

In practical terms, this means that if you import a 24-bit audio file at a sample rate of 48 kHz into a bit-transparent DAW, the audio should remain at that same bit depth and sample rate throughout the mixing and processing stages, provided that no effects or processing that could alter the audio are applied. This is particularly important for maintaining audio fidelity, especially in professional audio production environments where high-quality sound is crucial.