Sample format setting in the device MIDI unit

Help for Audacity on macOS.
Forum rules
ImageThis forum is for Audacity on macOS 10.4 and later.
Please state which version of macOS you are using,
and the exact three-section version number of Audacity from "Audacity menu > About Audacity".


Audacity 1.2.x and 1.3.x are obsolete and no longer supported. If you still have those versions, please upgrade at https://www.audacityteam.org/download/.
The old forums for those versions are now closed, but you can still read the archives of the 1.2.x and 1.3.x forums.
Post Reply
Thomas Rooth
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 1:37 pm
Operating System: macOS 10.15 Catalina or later

Sample format setting in the device MIDI unit

Post by Thomas Rooth » Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:07 pm

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

steve
Site Admin
Posts: 81627
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:43 am
Operating System: Linux *buntu

Re: Sample format setting in the device MIDI unit

Post by steve » Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:27 pm

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.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Thomas Rooth
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 1:37 pm
Operating System: macOS 10.15 Catalina or later

Re: Sample format setting in the device MIDI unit

Post by Thomas Rooth » Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:54 pm

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

Post Reply