Dithering in Modplug

[KrazyKatz]

When converting a 16bit sample into 8bit in the OMPT SAMPLES menu, how good a job does it dither it, or does it simply chop off the data?

[Saga Musix]

Just test and compare I can't tell exactly, but IMO it does a quite good job here...

[LPChip]

I can't tell for sure, but it really depends on the sample. Some samples give a good result, where others not.

[KrazyKatz]

Just test and compare I can't tell exactly, but IMO it does a quite good job here...

It does do a good job, no doubt, but it would be nice to know from a technical standpoint.

[Sam_Zen]

More technical data would be nice indeed. Like a formula.
I've always found the term 'dithering' a bit vague, both in graphics and in sound. How? What?

[LPChip]

Dithering means that when a value needs to be rounded and that value changes big, it changes the values around it to build towards that value.

Sort of...

It uses several values together to sum up to that one value in such way that on a distant, those values are being seen as that one value you're after.

And now so that you understand what I mean:

Dither is an intentionally applied form of noise, used to randomize quantization error, thereby preventing large-scale patterns such as contouring that are more objectionable than uncorrelated noise. Dither is routinely used in processing of both digital audio and digital video data, and is often one of the last stages of audio production to compact disc.

source: wikipedia

[Sam_Zen]

Thanks. I understand. This is done by Cool when removing a single click. One has to select an area around the spike of about 8 ms and the formula detects the value pattern around the spike, and replace it (almost and rounded) by that pattern.