Reference Guide

1187
System configuration
Improving audio performance
Bit depths for importing audio
You can choose the bit depth of imported files in SONAR, and you can also import files at their
current bit depth. You can import files at bit depths as high as 64. Because SONAR can play projects
that contain files of different bit depths, you don’t have to convert 16-bit files to 24 bits to play them
with other 24-bit files, saving significant storage space.
See “Bit depths and float resolution” on page 1184 for more information about 64-bit files.
To choose an importing bit depth
1. Go to Edit > Preferences > File - Audio Data.
2. Under File Bit Depths, change the Import Bit Depth field to the desired number. You can
choose the Original option to import the files at their current bit depth.
3. Click OK.
This process changes the default import bit depth, which appears in the Import Audio dialog box.
You can override this value for one import process at a time by changing the value in the Import
Audio dialog box.
See also “SONAR project file compatibility notes” on page 1188.
Bit depths for exporting audio
You can choose the bit depth of exported files from SONAR. Unless you are burning a CD or DVD,
or are concerned about storage space, you can export files at 32 bits (or even 64) to preserve the
precision of any audio processing that was done to the files.
To choose an exporting bit depth
1. Use the File > Export > Audio command to open the Export Audio dialog box.
2. In the Bit Depth field, select the desired number.
3. Choose other options and click OK.
Bit depths for rendering audio
You can choose the bit depth that SONAR uses for such operations as bouncing tracks, freezing
tracks, and applying effects (these processes are referred to as rendering). This bit depth is set at 32
by default, which allows large level changes without clipping, and with greater dynamic range,
especially in soft parts of your music. You can also render at 64 bits for greatest precision.
Note: If you are playing back 32-bit or 64-bit audio at high sample rates (and high latency sizes),
the disk I/O buffer size in Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching may need to be
increased to handle this extra disk streaming throughput. A too small disk I/O buffer size can
result in dropouts or clicks during audio playback of such content. If so try a higher I/O buffer
size like 256 or 512.