Now, many websites will tell you that you’re adding random noise that cancels out quantization error. That’s the basic gist of the whole thing. What is Dithering?ĭithering involves algorithms (coded directions given to a computer) that have to make decisions about how to handle the missing data (errors) from dropping out data in order to make the file sizes smaller. The errors we get when converting our recordings to lower quality bit rates causes the waveform to shiver, and the algorithms used to do the conversion can be indecisive. That second definition does make sense though, because that’s what our audio signals end up doing. Merriam Webster doesn’t even get the context right, defining it as, and I paraphrase, “to shiver, tremble, act nervously, or indecisively.” That’s not helpful at all, from Wikipedia. Dither Definitionĭither is an intentionally applied form of noise used to randomize quantization error. ![]() Let’s look at some definitions of this term and we’ll see why people are confused. It’s not easy to hear in audio form so my examples will be with images and you can translate that analogy mentally to digital audio and you’ll understand it nearly immediately. Dithering is a process to smooth out those errors. So we have to make that data simpler and take up less bandwidth, but when we down-convert like that we not only lose detail but we introduce errors. Not only is it not necessary but it’s too much data for normal consumer equipment to process live. We can never blast out the highest quality versions of audio, video, or images. It’s really simple, and here’s a preview. What’s funny is we’ve all seen and heard this technique applied in music, movies, and most noticeably in comic books, especially old ones, but when you try to find out more about it you get a bunch of convoluted information. We’re going to define dither, talk about what it actually is in the context of digital audio (as opposed to printing images or processing video, though we’ll mention this), and tell you when and how to use it. A great, relatively cheap program that just works.My goal here is to cut through the fog and give it to you plain. That aside, Hofa’s CD-Burn & DDP program is a fantastically simple tool that can play more than a minor role in your studio. Hmm… This should be adjustable in the preferences I reckon, but alas… But if you forget (perhaps because you’re zoomed in tight and can’t see the other tracks) and decide, for instance, to crossfade Songs 2 and 3 by seven seconds you will inadvertently create a gap between Songs 3 and 4 of that identical amount. Locking them together is as simple as holding down the Option key whilst you adjust the one furthest to the left, so it’s no big deal. I don’t like the way files in CD-Burn & DDP are edited on the timeline, each song file only locking to its downstream brethren when these are manually highlighted, though I’ll probably grow used to this idiosyncrasy in time. They’re given the prominence and significance they deserve, making you wonder why the hell some other programs make these vital commands so difficult – they’re the whole point of the program after all! I like how the ‘Burn CD’ and ‘Write DDP’ commands are in big letters >, not hidden in a menu somewhere or only accessible via some obscure key command. I like the fact that the interface sports a goniometer (a ‘jellyfish’ meter to some) though it’s pretty small and could be vastly improved by allowing a double-click to increase its size and separate it from the main screen. I love the fact that this program is so simple to use, so reliable, so unassuming yet functional. CD-Burn & DDP, however, is pretty straightforward in this respect if you have a background in these sorts of programs.Ī bit like Waveburner, a bit like DSP Quattro, but with more stability than either, CD-Burn & DDP allows you to do almost everything that these sort of programs do: edit, fade, crossfade, apply plug-ins, add metadata like ISRC codes etc, burn a CD or create a (reliable) DDP, apply dither, export files and a hundred things besides. ![]() I’ve had a lot of experience with countless audio programs over the years, but that doesn’t necessarily give you a licence to drive all of them.
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