Dithering
Definition
The process of adding very low-level noise when reducing Bit Depth to preserve sonic detail that would otherwise be lost to quantization distortion. Most commonly applied when converting from 24-bit to 16-bit for final distribution.
Context
Dithering should be applied as the very last step in the signal chain, after all other processing is complete. It is only necessary when reducing bit depth — not when staying at the same bit depth or increasing it. Common dither types include TPDF (triangular probability density function) and various noise-shaped algorithms offered by plugins such as those from iZotope and Waves.
Related Terms
See Also
Source Discussions
Discord Source
Channel: 🧠nerd-talk Messages: ~7 (dither theory, noise shaping, noise floor, signal-to-noise ratio) Key contributors: Nomograph Mastering, Gerhard Westphalen Date range: January 2024 – February 2026 See also: nerd-talk Channel Summary