I understand that dithering covers up apparent audible differences when converting down sample types, such as 24-bit PCM to 16-bit PCM. However, I edit audio using the following setings:
Format: Wave PCM (*.wav, *.bwf)
Sample Type: 192000 Hz, 32-bit
Bitrate: 24576 kbps
Format Settings: Wave Uncompressed, 64-bit Floating Point (IEEE)
Markers and other metadata included
Large estimated file sizes, such as 6 min = 1 GB
I then open the files in iTunes and convert them to ALAC m4a files at approx. 1846 kbps, 192 kHz, 16-bit.
Whenever I listen to down-sampled audio files I have worked with, I have never noticed an added noise floor, nor any differences at all, let alone any I didn't like.
Should I be adding dithering to my WAV files before exporting them?
Does Apple iTunes automatically add dithering when converting to ALAC m4a? If not, should it?
And if I were to export WAV files as lower-bit files from Audition CS6, should I add dithering?
I tend to remaster music to remove unnecessary noise that has no acoustic effect. Would I be unsatisified if I added dithering?
Are there specifications of dithering I can add that would not be audible, yet serve an important purpose?
Any thoughts are welcome! Thanks!