Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

--- erik_magrini@... wrote:
> In "theory", normalization shouldn't involve any calculations
> that would affect audio quality (you're just tacking on extra bits)

Not quite.  Normalization involves a multiply by a non-integral number
which leads to error, albeit down below the level of the original bit
depth.  For example, pretend you have a 2 bit system (4 levels).  If
you normalize a signal of 1,2,1,2 you'd have to multiply by 1.5,
leaving you with 1.5,3,1.5,3 which truncates to 1,3,1,3 or rounds to
2,3,2,3.  Either are wrong to the tune of up to a single bit.  While a
single bit is significant in a 2 bit system, it is negligible in a 16
or 20 or 24 bit system.

Wow, that was technical...

And my standard disclaimer, the only reason to record the analog
instead of digital is because you like the color of the XL-7's D/As,
preamps, or A/Ds you capture with.  The digital will *always* be
cleaner.

-Aaron

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