Sample format setting in the device MIDI unit

Hi,

Using macOS Sierra version 10.12.5.

I noticed the settings regarding Bit Depth in the iMac sound/MIDI unit is set to 24 bit integer for both input and output. Preferred settings in Audacity is 32 bit float for recording.
Should the iMac sound/MIDI settings correspond to Audacity settings 32 bit float or doesn’t it matter?

Kind regards,
/thomas

Audacity works internally with 32-bit float format, and it is best that Audacity is set to use 32-bit float format tracks. It does not matter that the sample format of the capture device does not match, and there aren’t any sound cards that capture as 32-bit.

It is preferable that the sample rate matches. By default this is 44100 Hz in Audacity, which is the rate used for audio CDs.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your quick reply!

In the iMac sound/MIDI unit it is possible to set the format to 32-bit floating. It is possible to set 8, 16, 32, 44,1, 48, 88,2, and 96 kHz each with 16, 20, 24 and 32-bit format but maybe the sound card don’t capture higher than 24-bit format. anyhow the sample rate is matching!

Kind regards,
/Thomas