24 bit should have been 16 bit: oops?

[hellosailor]

i recorded some files at 44100Hz 24-bit quality, and all I really need is 16-bit quality. Since the file sizes will be rather different...can I just resave the .AUP files to 16 bit file type? Or will that introduce subtle distortions or loss in the resulting .WAV (lossless) files?

[waxcylinder]

You (or rather Audacity) can "downsample" to 16-bit WAV on Exporting to WAV. A process known as dithering will be applied which will introduce tiny, tiny errors - but you won't hear them.

I have Audacity set to 32-bit 44.1kHz for recording and editing (for improved headroom for editing) and downsample to 16-bit 44.1kHz WAVs on export for burning to CDs.

WC

[Serenity1]

Does this apply to files exported to MP# as well? I have the same problem except in MP3 format

[waxcylinder]

Does this apply to files exported to MP# as well? I have the same problem except in MP3 format

Not really, no. The 24bit versus 16-bit that we are talking about hear is the sample rate for the project (basically how often the digital sound samples are made).

MP3 file size is controilled by the MP3 export bitrate (and IIRC Koziokowsj already told you in a previous post how to alter that - but just to remind you in 1.2.x it's via Edit>Preferences>File Formats and then use the drop-down in the MP3 Export Setup box. The default is 128which is generally reckoned to be the lowest acceptable compression rate for music - for spoken word you can go lower 64 is normally ok but you could experiment with 32. The more compression you apply, the more likely you are to get digital artefacts - an unpleasant warbly sound is indicative.

WC