Bit Depth Calculator — Dynamic Range & Quantisation

Bit depth determines the number of discrete amplitude levels available to represent each audio sample. More bits = more levels = finer resolution = greater dynamic range and lower quantisation noise. 16-bit has 65,536 levels, 24-bit has over 16 million.

Yes. Using the full formula (N × 6.02 + 1.76), 24-bit gives ≈146 dB of theoretical dynamic range versus ≈98 dB for 16-bit — the exact figures this calculator displays. You will often see these quoted as the rounded 144 dB and 96 dB; that shorthand simply drops the +1.76 dB offset and counts 6 dB per bit. Either way, 24-bit gives enormous headroom, so you can record at conservative levels without worrying about noise — invaluable during mixing.

Quantisation noise is the error introduced when a continuous analogue signal is rounded to the nearest discrete digital level. With the full formula, the theoretical noise floor sits at about -98 dBFS for 16-bit and -146 dBFS for 24-bit (these are the values the calculator shows, equal to minus the dynamic range). The commonly quoted -96 and -144 dBFS are the same figures rounded to 6 dB per bit. Dithering is used to convert quantisation distortion into less objectionable random noise.

32-bit floating point provides virtually unlimited dynamic range within the DAW. It is impossible to clip internally. This makes it ideal for processing and mixing, though the actual conversion to and from analogue is still limited to 24-bit precision on current hardware.