What's 12-bit audio for?

[Sillyname]

What's the point in having the ability to capture 12 or 16-bit audio? Does the 12-bit mode allow for four channel sound like the XL1? Is there an adapter?

[Dr Mordrid]

If we're talking camcorder options, it's just a difference in the quality of the audio encoded onto the tape. 12 bit audio should be fine for most talking head videos. 16 bit would be better for events with music or a significant levels of ambient sound that could distort in 12 bit.

Dr. Mordrid

[Sillyname]

Yeah, but why have it be an option if you're not at least getting more recording time out of your tape?

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Elie]

12 bit audio is only used in camcrders that support 4 channel audio recording like the XL-1.

It's good if you have 4 mics and you want to capture the audio from various locations.

Cheers,
Elie

[Sillyname]

Actually, I believe every Sony digital camcorder boasts 12 and 16-bit audio but they say nothing of 4-channel audio recording capabilities.

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Markus Zingg]

As long as you don't intend to record more than two audio chanels, recording in 12 bit audio makes no sense at all. The reason for this is simple. The DV format itself stores audio within a frame. The frame is having a fixed size. So if you record 12 bit audio stereo, half of the potential space for audio data remains unused in the frame.

HTH

Markus

[Sillyname]

So how do you sneak that extra 2 channels onto the video?

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Deep is not the root word of depression.

[Dr Mordrid]

You don't have to go as high as the XL-1 for dual audio capabilities. My buddys Elura has 12 and 16 bit too. It came with 12 bit activated, but it took a voice-mail type menu session to get to the 16 bit option

Dr. Mordrid

[wkulecz]

According to the manual, my lowly TR7000 D8 has the choice of 12 or 16 bit audio on one of its menus. It defaults to 12-bits which has sounded good enough for me. According to the manual in 12 bit mode you can "overlay" another 12-bit stereo track for "annotation". In 16-bit mode you need to edit the DV, mix the extra sound and then rewrite the DV back to tape. I've never played with this so I might be imprecise interpreting what the manual says.

Unless the camcorder has inputs to allow four channels of simutaneous audio, it seems a very dubious feature to all of us editing on PCs.

--wally.

[Meek]

Yes, it really is meant to be used for narration etc. to be added afterwords to the master tape. As such it is a feature of the DV specification.

M.

[Flying dutchman]

12-bit audio allows you to record an additional two sound channels.

Some professional cameras allow you to record true 4 sound channels simultaneously, others (such as my Canon Optura/MV30) allow you to record the additional two sound channels afterwards (to add music or comments to your video tape).

Pretty useless to most people, absolutely invaluable for reporters and sports trainers etc. that can quickly review recorded scenes and comment them.