Converting 24/96 to 16/44.1 - Audacity 2.0.3

[bomber1978]

Hi,
Using Audacity 2.0.3.
I have some 24/96 files I want to preserve quality as best as I can, however I do need to convert to 16/44.1, and boost volume, maybe also do a small amount of EQ’ing.
What’s the best order to do this?, I’m pretty sure EQ, boost volume then export?, but Audacity doesn’t have actual downsample button I’m used to seeing in Adobe, what is the best process/order to use?
Also what type dither in Audacity 2.0.3?
Thanks in advance.

[Trebor]

... Audacity doesn’t have actual downsample button...

It has a resample button ... https: //ttmanual.audacityteam.org/o/man/tracks_menu.html

[steve]

Unless you are using Windows XP, you should upgrade Audacity to the current version (2.3.2) https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/

The instructions below are for Audacity 2.3.2.

The default "sample format" in Audacity is 32-bit float. Don't change that - leave it as 32-bit float.

If the volume level is very low, boost that first to around -6 dB (either the Normalize effect or the Amplify effect).

Apply Equalization as required. (the level will change when you do this)

Normalize to -1 dB.

Ensure that the "Project Rate" (lower left corner of the main Audacity window) is set to 44100. This determines the sample rate of the exported file.

Export as 24-bit WAV:
"File menu > Export > Export Audio"
Select "Other uncompressed files" as the file type (https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/oth ... tions.html)
Then select "WAV" as the header and "Signed 24-bit PCM" as the Encoding.

[bomber1978]

Unless you are using Windows XP, you should upgrade Audacity to the current version (2.3.2) https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/

The instructions below are for Audacity 2.3.2.

The default "sample format" in Audacity is 32-bit float. Don't change that - leave it as 32-bit float.

If the volume level is very low, boost that first to around -6 dB (either the Normalize effect or the Amplify effect).

Apply Equalization as required. (the level will change when you do this)

Normalize to -1 dB.

Ensure that the "Project Rate" (lower left corner of the main Audacity window) is set to 44100. This determines the sample rate of the exported file.

Export as 24-bit WAV:
"File menu > Export > Export Audio"
Select "Other uncompressed files" as the file type (https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/oth ... tions.html)
Then select "WAV" as the header and "Signed 24-bit PCM" as the Encoding.

Thanks Steve, this is all exactly as I thought, just wasn’t sure if there was a slightly different way also.
I remember being told dither was especially important downconverting, I presume best to leave dither as default whether I use 2.0.3 or 2.3.2 ?
Thanks

[steve]

I presume best to leave dither as default whether I use 2.0.3 or 2.3.2 ?

Yes (though for down sampling to 24-bit, it makes very little difference).

[bomber1978]

Yeah but I’m converting from 24/96 to 16/44.1, so want to make sure I’m preserving quality as best as I can.

I presume best to leave dither as default whether I use 2.0.3 or 2.3.2 ?

Yes (though for down sampling to 24-bit, it makes very little difference).

[steve]

Yeah but I’m converting from 24/96 to 16/44.1,

Ah, OK. The answer is still the same though. Leave dither as default.

Just as a point of interest, you will actually be converting from 24 bit -> 32-bit float -> 16 bit.
Audacity (always) works internally in 32-bit float format. The first conversion (to 32-bit float) is totally lossless. The second conversion is "quantizing" to 16-bit. This second conversion is subject to "rounding errors", which is why we use dither on this conversion.

[bomber1978]

Thanks Steve.