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Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-lcc!pyramid!voder!apple!north
From: north@apple.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.amiga,rec.audio,rec.music.synth
Subject: Re: Mac II D/A resolution
Message-ID: <597@apple.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Apr-87 06:03:17 EST
Article-I.D.: apple.597
Posted: Sat Apr  4 06:03:17 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Apr-87 10:47:12 EST
References: <585@plx.UUCP>
Reply-To: north@apple.UUCP (Donald N. North)
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 24
Keywords: 16-bit?
Xref: utgpu comp.sys.mac:2173 comp.sys.amiga:3244 rec.audio:1084 rec.music.synth:557

In article <585@plx.UUCP> ed@plx.UUCP (Ed Chaban) writes:
>I've heard conflicting reports about the MacII's D/A resolution.
>Would anyone at Apple care to set me straight?
>
>How can you say the Mac II  delivers CD audio quality with only 
>8-bits of resolution?  Exponential D/A converters A'la Amiga?

The one DAC in the Mac II sound chip is only 8 bits; it is time multiplexed
via a S/H for two channel (stereo) operation.  The sample rate can be either
Macintosh compatible at 22.26kHz, or CD compatible at 44.1 kHz.  The sound
quality is 'very good', but it is not strictly 'CD quality', because of the
lower resolution of the DAC.  However, you won't believe how good only 8 bits
can sound until you hear it in person.
-- 

Don North
Apple Computer, Inc.
Advanced Development Group

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{{ Facts are facts, but any opinions expressed are my own, and do not     }}
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