23-02-2017, 02:16 PM
At least in digital systems you can use enough bits for internal signals that you've got a lot of margin in the gain structure. For controlled signals (on a CD for example) 16 bit is enough but for uncontrolled signals, such direct from a mic you need more bits. This stretches the capabilities of even the best ADCs unless you have some kind of gain control ahead of the ADC. Once you're in a computer, whether special purpose or PC, 32 bits is easy. That's over 180dB dynamic range so even if you've got the level quite horribly wrong at some point you can put it right without significant penalty.
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
