Specifications

Audio Plug-Ins Guide350
20-bit Recommended for output to digital de-
vices that support a full 20-bit recording data
path, such the Sony PCM-9000 optical mastering
recorder, or the Alesis ADAT XT 20. Use this
setting for output to analog devices if you are
using a 20-bit audio interface, such as the
882|20 I/O audio interface. The 20-bit setting
can also be used for output to digital effects de-
vices that support 20-bit input and output, since
it provides for a lower noise floor and greater
dynamic range when mixing 20-bit signals di-
rectly into Pro Tools.
Noise Shaping Button
The Noise Shaping button engages or disengages
Noise shaping. Noise shaping is on when the
button is highlighted in blue.
Noise shaping can further improve audio per-
formance and reduce perceived noise inherent
in dithered audio. Noise shaping uses filtering
to shift noise away from frequencies in the mid-
dle of the audio spectrum (around 4 kHz), where
the human ear is most sensitive.
The Dither plug-in only provides eight
channels of uncorrelated dithering noise. If
Dither is used on more than eight tracks, the
dithering noise begins to repeat and dither
performance is impaired. For example, if
two Quad Dithers are used, both Quad in-
stances of Dither will have all of their dither
noise uncorrelated. However, any addi-
tional instances of the Dither plug-in will
begin to repeat the dithering noise.