Why 16 bit?

I don't understand why Akai didn't make this product to be 20 bits or 24 bits. While it's true that cd's have to be formatted to in 16 bit, my understanding is that when recording in 16 bit, you're actually capturing less information than the 16 bits, meaning less sonics. Whereas if the MPC were recording at 20 bits, the full spectrum of information would be captured for sure. The Pod XT is 24 bits. My Vox Tonelab is 20 bits.

While this may or may not be the main motivating factor for Akai- though I'm almost sure it must have been- the vast bulk of sounds available through any channel, be it the Internet, commercial CDs, free download sites like Hollow Sun, etc, all come as 16-bit, 44.1KHz WAV or AIFF files.

Higher bit resolution means higher costs for memory, (samples will take up more space) lack of compatibility of exported/imported sounds, just as higher sampling rate means higher costs for DAC and ADC converters, the need for a faster processor, and the difference in sound quality is not something the average ear will ever be able to detect. The difference between 8-bit and 16-bit sound is astounding. The difference between 16-bit and 24-bit sound is negligible at most and oft-times you can't hear the difference.

-tank.

16 bit is like industry standard, cd quality. Sure there's quality beyond that but it's not even necesary. 16 bit 44.1k is sufficient and cost effective

"my understanding is that when recording in 16 bit, you're actually capturing less information than the 16 bits, meaning less sonics. "

You make it sound like we've not been doing it right for the past 20 years with 16-bit equipment. Seems that no one complained about 16-bit until we got 24-bit equipment.

Reagardless, I believe the MPC1000 uses 20-bit ADC's, so it it does store a very nice representation in 16-bit linear format.

mpc3000 wrote:"
Reagardless, I believe the MPC1000 uses 20-bit ADC's, so it it does store a very nice representation in 16-bit linear format.

That's good to hear. The reason I mentioned this is because as I familarize myself with the MPC, I'm recording different programs into Pro Tools, where I record at 24 bit. And I monitor using a Benchmark DAC1 through Mackie HR624s. It just seemed like the sound wasn't quite as crisp as what I'm used to hearing, but I'm probably overthinking it.

Toecutter wrote:16 bit is like industry standard, cd quality. Sure there's quality beyond that but it's not even necesary. 16 bit 44.1k is sufficient and cost effective

what a load of shit. go learn Nyquist theory then come back and say higher bit rates arent necessary.

**** CD's.... gimme more more more more! MORE MORE MORE!



MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE! more numbers! more numbers mean better! yeah! right on!

trust your ears - to me, my mpc sounds fatter than my computer when it´s playing back any ´quality´of audio...

In the MPC4000 section people are wondering why 24bits?!

LOL

cut out wrote:trust your ears - to me, my mpc sounds fatter than my computer when it´s playing back any ´quality´of audio...

It depends on the convertors of your audiocard. Akai's convertors are really warm and sounds great!