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From: adamson@ITD.NRL.NAVY.MIL (Brian Adamson)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.emusic-l
Subject: Re:   PCM follow-up question-
Message-ID: <9002122136.AA01637@css.itd.nrl.navy.mil>
Date: 12 Feb 90 21:36:18 GMT
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     Companded probably means they are really using 8-bit A/D conversion
and then using some kind of dynamic range assignment rule supposedly
optimized for drum sounds to try to get the same dynamic range as
you would get if you had used a 12 bit A/D converter to start with.

        Although this may give you some added dynamic range (sort of), it
does not change the signal-to-noise ratio max that can be achieved
using only 8 bit conversion (approx 45-50 dB).  That may be part of
the problem.

        I posted a message a little while ago about linear samples
versus companded (compressed according to u-law, A-law, etc).

                        Hope this helps,

                        Brian Adamson