Bitrate Measurement

[struknes]

What is the measurement of the bit rate in Ableton? Kilobits per second? Megabits per millisecond? Like, the setting in the preferences dialog box offers you options of 16, 24, 32, etc., but it doesn't say what type of bit and how often.

Also, anyone know how bit rates above 100 relate to these standard bit rates were all familiar with (8, 16, 24, 32)? I've got a second program I'm sending Ableton's audio stream to and this second program's bit rate setting options are as follows: 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 288, and 320. It doesn't say whether that's kilobits/second (I'm assuming it is).

Reason I ask is, I'm hearing in my audio what is possibly a digital error of some kind so I'm wondering whether it's because my bit rate in this second program isn't 'matched' to the bit rate in Ableton, but it's hard to match them because they're being measured in different units, Ableton between 8 and 32, and this other program between 64 and 320.

[struknes]

No I'm not joking. I'm that ignorant. Thanks for the help.

[hoffman2k]

In audio production, we talk about sample rate and bit depth. A CD has a sample rate of 44100 samples per second and a bit depth of 16 bits. Preferably, Ableton and your streaming software are set to the same values. Your audio interface can only support one rate/depth at a time.

Bit rate is something different. Its how many bits of information you send per second. This makes the most sense in the context of streaming, but also refers to compressed audio/video like MP3's and YT videos.
The lower your bitrate, the less data you are streaming. Less data means less audio quality. 320 is the most used bitrate and people can write books about the differences in quality they do or do not perceive.
Thats the answer in a nutshell, but here's a video that explains the concept clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Rp-uo6HmI

[struknes]

In audio production, we talk about sample rate and bit depth. A CD has a sample rate of 44100 samples per second and a bit depth of 16 bits. Preferably, Ableton and your streaming software are set to the same values. Your audio interface can only support one rate/depth at a time.

Bit rate is something different. Its how many bits of information you send per second. This makes the most sense in the context of streaming, but also refers to compressed audio/video like MP3's and YT videos.
The lower your bitrate, the less data you are streaming. Less data means less audio quality. 320 is the most used bitrate and people can write books about the differences in quality they do or do not perceive.
Thats the answer in a nutshell, but here's a video that explains the concept clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Rp-uo6HmI

Thanks. Your explanation re: the difference between bit rate and bit depth is highly helpful. I thought they were the same thing.

[Stromkraft]

"The lower your bitrate, the less data you are streaming. Less data means less audio quality"

Yes, provided this in within comparing work products made with the same encoder type, like for example MP3. Even with MP3 it's not always clear cut. LAME MP3 encoded files sound at least as good as the next step up in bitrate, or at least used to.

Alternatively, yes provided the comparison is made within the specific format/codec. AAC has at least as good or better sound qualities than MP3 also at somewhat lower bit rates. In video, X265 can have way lower bit rate yet retain the same quality or be better compared to x264.

[hoffman2k]

The risk of trying to simplify a topic like this on a forum full of experts, is that I might get schooled too
I went for Adam Scott's video, since its easy to visualise this and I did go for a subjectivity disclaimer... But alas...
I did know of a decent video that explained why 16-bit audio isn't all that bad, but it seemed less relevant. Also, there's bound to be at least one person on this forum that does everything in 1-bit DSD audio...

https://xiph.org/video/vid2.shtml

[Tarekith]

My latest mastering DAC does 1 trillion bits. Backwards.

[Tuur]

My latest mastering DAC does 1 trillion bits. Backwards.

In time? And are you talking about the new 3D bits, or those old flat type bits?

[Tarekith]

Quantum bits seem to be what all the higher end DAC manufacturers are using nowadays. 3D bits are about as relevant as 32bit plug ins now...

[Tuur]

I prefer the old-skool sound of 'm.