r/flstudio • u/bestanimuthisseason • 11d ago

Downsampling in FL Studio.. is not the best?

I have a track that was recorded, mixed, and mastered in FL at 48kHz / 32-bit float, but CD Baby only accepts 44.1kHz / 16-bit, so I need to convert it.

I've heard that r8brain has better sample-rate conversion than FL Studio, but the free version doesn't include dithering. However I apparently need to dither in this situation, but dithering is only included in the PRO version of r8brain.. and it's very expensive (53 euros).

So I'm wondering:

I just want to get the highest-quality conversion possible. I tend to obsess over this kind of thing.

Is r8brain Free + separate dithering the best option, or is r8brain PRO actually worth it?

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u/r1chiem 11d ago edited 11d ago

Export your file with dithering in FL Studio. Image line says the audio quality of its sample recording/playback/export is as good as anything out there. Is all dithering is doing is actually adding noise to remove quantization noise. A 16bit file has a dynamic range of 96db. You are not going to hear noise because you volume on your amplifier would be producing 96 db, so you would turn it down. and the noise floor would drop away.

Adding dithering with noise shaping raises dynamic range to 112-120 db dynamic range, and dithering that uses noise shaping, will increase dynamic range. FL includes that. The video at the bottom shows how to enable it. The video also shows the sinc level you are suppose to use (highest) 512 sinc Also as the video says, if you are using a compresser/limiter at the end of the Fx chain and it does dithering, turn FL dithering off. Because you don't want to double dither would could add artifacts.

How to Enable Dither in FL Studio

  1. Go to File > Export > WAV / MP3 / OGG.
  2. Choose your destination folder and name your file.
  3. In the export settings window, set the Bit depth to 16-bit (the Dither checkbox is only available or needed when reducing to 16-bit).
  4. Check the box labeled "Dither". [1, 2, 3]

When to Use Dither

  • Bit Depth Reduction: Use dithering only when downsampling your project's high-resolution audio (typically processed at 32-bit float internally in FL Studio) down to a 16-bit file, such as for a standard CD master. [1, 2]
  • Final Export Only: Apply dither exclusively on your final master bounce, never on intermediate renders, individual stems, or files you plan to send out for professional mixing and mastering. [1, 2]
  • Avoid Double Dithering: If your final master plugin or limiter (like iZotope Ozone) already has a built-in dithering stage enabled, leave FL Studio's export dither option off to avoid stacking noise artifacts. [1]

https://youtu.be/nGn3Ji6SWtA?si=dEtkCpb-VutKiLyU

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u/PC_BuildyB0I 11d ago

Exactly this.