What does bit depth control?

Bit depth determines the number of discrete amplitude levels available to represent each audio sample. More bits = more levels = finer resolution = greater dynamic range and lower quantisation noise. 16-bit has 65,536 levels, 24-bit has over 16 million.

Should I record at 24-bit?

Yes. 24-bit recording provides 144 dB of theoretical dynamic range compared to 96 dB for 16-bit. This gives enormous headroom, meaning you can record at conservative levels without worrying about noise. The extra headroom is invaluable during mixing.

What is quantisation noise?

Quantisation noise is the error introduced when a continuous analogue signal is rounded to the nearest discrete digital level. At 16-bit, this noise floor sits at about -96 dBFS. At 24-bit, it drops to -144 dBFS. Dithering is used to convert this distortion into less objectionable random noise.

What is the point of 32-bit float?

32-bit floating point provides virtually unlimited dynamic range within the DAW. It is impossible to clip internally. This makes it ideal for processing and mixing, though the actual conversion to and from analogue is still limited to 24-bit precision on current hardware.

AudioCalcs

Bit Depth Calculator — Dynamic Range & Quantisation

Calculate dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and quantisation levels from bit depth.

Bit Depth Preset

How We Calculate This

Dynamic Range

Dynamic Range (dB) = (N × 6.02) + 1.76

Where N = bit depth. Each additional bit adds approximately 6 dB of dynamic range.

Quantisation Levels

Levels = 2^N

16-bit = 65,536 levels. 24-bit = 16,777,216 levels. Each level represents one possible amplitude value.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.