From: geoff@nospamgeoffwood.org   
      
   On 30/07/2025 1:30 am, Tobiah wrote:   
   > I'm intrigued by the new wave of recorders that   
   > utilize one ADC set to a low gain, and one set   
   > to a higher gain.  Backed by 32bit float, it would   
   > seem on the surface that there is no need to adjust   
   > gain, and indeed these new models often don't have   
   > a way to do that.   
   >   
   > It seems to me though that there might be some   
   > compromise there.  Take very quiet sounds - sounds   
   > that in this case might only use a half, or quarter   
   > or even a tenth of the range of the ADC that is   
   > more sensitive.  With a normal recorder, I'd increase   
   > the gain to approach the capacity of the ADC.  Now,   
   > I get that I don't have to worry about digital noise   
   > because of the 32bit float, but on the analog side   
   > I'm really just going in with gain set too low for the premp.   
   > I mean isn't that why we generally set gain near the top?   
   > I generally assume that the best noise performance   
   > is achieved at gain levels that bring the signal   
   > close to max level for the preamp.  It seems like using the two   
   > ADC's is like giving me a low/high gain switch   
   > instead of a knob.   
   >   
   > I'm also curious about mid range and high level   
   > signals.  Say the signal is strong enough to   
   > fill the lower sensitivity ADC half way.  Does   
   > the signal use only the output of that one ADC   
   > in that case or is the waveform actually patched   
   > together using output from both?   
   >   
   > And again, say the signal makes it just 10% of the   
   > way into the lower sensitivity ADC.  It seems like   
   > this is the same as recording from a regular preamp   
   > at low gain levels.  The signal will have to be raised   
   > along with the noise floor, which I guess is why we   
   > don't usually record with too low a gain level.   
   >   
   >   
   > Toby   
      
   What are they trying to record - nuclear explosions next to ant-whispers   
   ?!!! Surely a 'good 24' would cover all music with headroom, and most   
   other real-world things.   
      
   On a technical front, without deeper explanation, I worry about the   
   'crossover' region between the ADCs.   
      
   --   
   geoff   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)