What Is Bit Depth?

Quick Daily Podcasting Tips by Alitu

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about bit depth. So each audio sample – those little dots in your waveform – has a ‘bit depth’, which determines the quality of the sound. Some tools will ask you to select a bit depth prior to recording. The most common bit depths are 16, 24, and 32. As is often the case, the higher the number, the higher the quality. Higher bit depths are better at handling noise with substantial differences between its quietest and loudest parts. But this is much more relevant to musicians than it is to those of us recording the spoken word. So if you’re asked, just opt for 16, and set your levels so nobody is at risk of peaking or clipping. Bit depth is yet another thing Alitu handles behind the scenes, too. At this rate it’s going to be making you a cup of coffee and a sandwich, eh? Get a free trial at alitu.com - sandwiches not included. Yet.