24 bit soundcards
24 bit recording and playback is currently available only on very good quality soundcards, such as the Creative Audigy 2, MIDIMan Delta cards, Echo Gina, Darla and Layla. If you don't have such a card you don't need the 24 bit n-Track version. If you'll buy one of this cards later you'll be able to upgrade to the 24 bit version for the exact price difference between the standard and 24 bit version.
- If you don't
know if your soundcard can handle 24 bit recording and playback, probably
it can't. The "32", "64" or "128" in the names
of some soundcards doesn't refer to the bit depth (for example the Creative
AWE 64 is a 16 bit soundcard, the number 64 referring to the theoretical maximum
number of MIDI voices available). Here's some examples of 16 bit
soundcards:
- Creative Labs SB16, 32, AWE32/64, Ensoniq/AudioPCI 64, SB128, Live!, Audigy 1
- most generic
multimedia audio devices that you find pre-installed on your computer. Some may support 24 bit audio output but not 24 bit recording.
- The Soundblaster
Audigy 2 and later can record and playback in 24 bit (& 96 Khz) mode.
The Asio drivers only work up to 16 bits/48 Khz but 24 bit/96 Khz recording
works with WDM drivers. Since n-Track natively supports WDM drivers the
limitation with Asio drivers is not a concern.
The Soundblaster Audigy 1 can only record and playback in 16 bit mode, despite the specs may lead to think that it's a 24 bit card.
- To check if
a soundcard accepts the 24 bit format, click on the settings button on the
playback vumeter window, select "24 bit", click OK
and start the playback. If the format is not supported the program will report an error. Also make sure you've selected the soundcard's WDM or Asio (not MME) drivers in the File/Settings/Preferences/Audio devices dialog box.
- The format of
the input or output (16 or 24 bit) has no influence on the precision with
which the program does its internal signal processing
calculations. The program always uses 32 bit floating point data for optimum sound quality and dynamic range.
- Starting from version 4.1.5 n-Track is available in 32 bit and 64 bit (x64) versions. The 32 and 64 bits have nothing to do with soundcards and recording quality, they are related to the CPU "word length", which roughly speaking refers to the amount of information they can process with a single operation. Registering to any version of n-Track allows to register both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions. The 64 bit version will run only on 64 bit CPUs and on 64 bit operating systems (such as Windows XP x64 and Windows Vista x64). If you register the 16 bit version of n-Track you'll be able to use the 32 bit version in 16 bit mode and the 64 bit version in 16 bit mode. If you register the 24 bit version of n-Track you'll be able to use the 32 bit version in 24 bit mode and the 64 bit version in 24 bit mode.
- There is currently (and for the foreseable future) no such thing as a 32 bit or 64 bit soundcard.