Bit Depth

What Is Bit Depth?

Bit depth is a setting you choose when you record music on a computer. Recording at a higher bit depth means that you are recording sound more precisely. It is like recording in high definition.

When a computer records sound, it takes tiny snapshots of the music. A song is made up of these snapshots just the same way that a video is made up of individual images or frames. Bit depth tells the computer how precisely it can measure amplitude at each snapshot.

The most common settings are 16-bit and 24-bit. Most modern studios use 24-bit because it captures much more detail.

How Does Bit Depth Change The Sound?

Bit depth changes how clean your recording sounds. When you use a low setting, the computer has to round the exact volume of the sound to the nearest value that it is capable of recording. This rounding creates a quiet, fuzzy noise in the background of your track. This noise is known as quantization noise.

When you use a higher bit depth, the computer does not have to round as much. It is able to capture the exact volume more perfectly. This means your recording will sound very clear and natural. The quiet parts will not have as much fuzzy background noise. A high setting makes your music sound exactly like it did in the real world.

Do I Need 32-Bit Float Recording?

You might hear people talk about 32-bit float recording. This is a very new and advanced setting. It gives you an incredible amount of room for volume. With 32-bit float, it is almost impossible for your recording to distort or clip if it gets too loud.

However, most people do not need 32-bit float for everyday music production. Standard 24-bit recording is already amazing and gives you plenty of room to work. The 32-bit float setting is mostly useful for people recording sound for movies. These people might record a quiet whisper and a loud explosion in the same take. For normal music, 24-bit is perfect and saves space on your hard drive.

Why Does Bit Depth Matter For Headroom?

Headroom is the safe space between the loudest part of your song and the point where the sound distorts. Bit depth is very important for creating this safe space.

In the past, people recorded at 16-bit. They had to record their music very loud so it would hide the fuzzy background noise. This meant they had very little headroom. If the singer suddenly sang too loud, the recording would distort and sound bad.

Today, 24-bit recording has a very low noise floor. The background is completely silent. Because of this, you can record your music at a lower, safer volume. You do not have to worry about the fuzzy noise. This gives you plenty of headroom.