Bit depths for importing audio

You can choose the bit depth of imported files in SONAR, and you can also import files at their current bit depth. You can import files at bit depths as high as 64. Because SONAR can play projects that contain files of different bit depths, you don’t have to convert 16-bit files to 24 bits to play them with other 24-bit files, saving significant storage space.

Note: If you are playing back 32-bit or 64-bit audio at high sample rates (and high latency sizes), the disk I/O buffer size in Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching may need to be increased to handle this extra disk streaming throughput. A too small disk I/O buffer size can result in dropouts or clicks during audio playback of such content. If so try a higher I/O buffer size like 256 or 512.

See Bit depths and float resolution for more information about 64-bit files.

To choose an importing bit depth

1.	Go to Edit > Preferences > File - Audio Data.

2.	Under File Bit Depths, change the Import Bit Depth field to the desired number. You can choose the Original option to import the files at their current bit depth.

3.

Click OK.

This process changes the default import bit depth, which appears in the Import Audio dialog box. You can override this value for one import process at a time by changing the value in the Import Audio dialog box.

See also SONAR project file compatibility notes.