Bit-transparency
From Benchmark
Introduction
A digital audio device achieves bit-transparency if it passes digital audio data without affecting the data in any way. This device may be hardware, software, or a combination of both.
Testing for Bit-Transparency
To determine if a device is bit-transparent, it is tested by sending a psuedo-random bit sequence through it and monitoring the digital output. The psuedo-random bit sequence is created by an Audio Precision digital signal generator, and the digital output is sent to the Audio Precision digital analyzer. The returned signal is then compared with the original signal to determine if the device changed the data in any way.
EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL BIT-TRANSPARENT TEST:
11100011100011 -> Device -> 11100011100011
EXAMPLE OF A FAILED BIT-TRANSPARENT TEST:
11100011100011 -> Device -> 11100011100010
A device would fail a bit-tranparency test if it converts the sample-rate of the audio, shortens or lengthens the word-length, applies gain changes, applies eq or any other DSP or plug-in, or any other type of data manipulation.
*More information on this subject will be added soon. Please check back.
