what is 14 bit absolute?

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:50 am

in the real world? I have found something online explaining how 14 bit refers to "fine" adjustments, meaning values can range from 0 to 16,384 as opposed to 7bit which is coarse and ranges from the normal 0-127

but where would this be an issue and when would you select absolute 14 bit?

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:53 am

Can this thread get an OT heading?

On Topic.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:55 am

damn I thought you were actually helping me there!

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:58 am

I use lo fi effects often (Redux, mda Degrage and such), and often 0-127 isn't enough resolution, leading to "stepping" in the sound instead of a smooth change when tweaking parameters. In that case and similar ones 14 bit helps.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:17 am

yes I'm starting to see how that could be useful with relative/endless rotary knobs - but considering you only have quite a small distance you can travel on your average midi controller with absolute knobs how could you get it that fine anyway??

I'm guessing maybe it's for something like a jog wheel - pitch bend is AFAIK 14 bit but is a different thing - unless that is what it's for

it's funny doing some research on it now that I've never really found out about this before - I've been using midi devices in one way or another for something like 15 years and never come across this!

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:27 am

For me in Live it's like if I can't achieve what I want with 7 bits, I'll reduce the mapped control range. If I can't reduce it, I'll go 14 bit. If I still can't, cmd + N

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:39 am

The manual skips over 14 bit absolute mode. It's a conspiracy.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:42 am

DeadlyKungFu wrote:The manual skips over 14 bit absolute mode. It's a conspiracy.

actually - I thought it skipped it too, but it doesnt, it just doesnt say that's what it's talking about:

Live also supports pitch bend messages and high-precision controller messages with a
0...16383 value range. The above specications apply to pitch bend and high-precision
controllers as well, except that the value range's center is at 8191/8192.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:43 am

so I guess all I'm wondering now is other than pitch bend, in what situation would you use an absolute controller at a higher resolution

bensuthers · Post by **bensuthers** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:44 am

> I use lo fi effects often (Redux, mda Degrage and such), and often 0-127 isn't
> enough resolution,

yeah. I usually find I need more resolution in my controller data than in my audio.

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:03 am

but what kind of controls are you using with the setting?

if I try and use any of the knobs on my UC33 it just doesnt work, and in midi map mode live changes it to normal absolute

mylkoa · Post by **mylkoa** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:57 am

bump badda bump bump

bump
bump

b0unce · Post by **b0unce** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:40 pm

forge wrote:so I guess all I'm wondering now is other than pitch bend, in what situation would you use an absolute controller at a higher resolution

well depends on the controllers, the kenton range can send out 14bits I'm 99% sure.
and then it probably depends on the vst...
and the kenton range are absolute controllers ....they are gonna release some endless rotaries on their new ableton-aimed range...

I havent used a vst in quite some time now, but i remember using something from the OHM boys range that stepped....and its ugly as hell, unfortunately I didnt know at the time it was down to a resolution issue (if it is)...and just assumed it was a problem specific to that plugin, cos my other vsts didnt step like that and i was using 7bit midi on them too.....or wait a minute, i think it was impOSCar ....there were so many vsts installed on that computer it was ridiculous

forge · Post by **forge** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:45 pm

thanks

so it seems like it can make controllers smoother, even if you dont notice the actual fine adjustments as such? - meaning if you're controller still goes from left to right in the same amount of time and takes the parameter it's controlling to and from the same place as the 7 bit ones would, but the transitions are smoother in between every stage

makes sense

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:54 pm

depends if your controller supports 14 bit resolution on the second data byte, my Doepfer Drehbank doesn't.
Boo hoo for me.

7 bit hardware controllers suck

14 bit hardware rocks

You can select 14 bit if you like, but unless your controllers actually send it, like me, you will not be getting the fine detailed control.

Newer controllers are more likely to have 14 bit controls
The BCR has 32 rotary controls, 24 of which are high-resolution (14bit
precision).