[linux-audio-dev] Converting a 24bit sample to 16bit

[Paul Davis]

On Sat, 2006-07-08 at 13:34 +0100, James Courtier-Dutton wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Is there a standard way of converting a 24bit sample to 16bit?
> I ask because I think that in different scenarios, one would want a
> different result.
> 1) scale a 24bit value to a 16bit by simple multiplication by a fraction.
> 2) bit shift the 24bit value, so that the "most useful 16bits" are
> returned to the user. The problem here is what are the "most useful
> 16bits"? I have one application where just using the lower 16bits of the
> 24bit value is ideal, due to extremely low input signals.
> 
> Option (1) looses information due to compression of the signal.
> Option (2) is more likely to loose information through clipping.

google for "dither"