PCM-91 vs Altiverb vs PCM96 Surround

[supoUSA]

Also throw in the above title the 960L. I'll get right to it. I'm not that smart (just being honest). I use the PCM91 digitally in after recording a live venue at 16bit-44.1. Can I record, let's say, 96K / 24bit and digitally connect it to the PCM91 without any truncating or ???

Here's what I'm trying to accomplish...at some of my live venues, I want to record and offer a DVD-Audio (in stereo) or a DVD-Audio in 5.1 Surround. Reverb units are expensive and I've got my PCM91 stereo (which I happen to love).

Speaking just in stereo DVD-Audio, can I record in stereo on a HD-P2 Tascam and digitally connect to my PCM91 or am I going to need to use a later version of the Lexicon (or a 960L) or Altiverb for that to handle a straight digital 96K/24bit?

Let's say I want to do 5.1 Surround - will Altiverb work at those frequency and bit? Is this what the 96 Surround from Lexicon was designed to do (obviously, I would need like a Sound Devices or some other multitrack recorder for the 5.1).

Trying to figure this out. And I guess, do you think the "general consumer' would buy this? I would package it with the CD, not instead of and make it a higher priced item. The DVD would be "live and unedited" and was thinking about using Wavelab and add some concert stills as we typically photograph the event.

THANKS. Sorry for being not that bright about equipment.

[DanDan]

I recommend that work at 48K 24Bit. All your equipment will work. There is little benefit to working at 96K. I doubt that many DVD players can handle that well. Even if they can do 96, the clock will be twice as stable at 48K.
DD

[Michael Carnes]

Originally Posted by supoUSA

Speaking just in stereo DVD-Audio, can I record in stereo on a HD-P2 Tascam and digitally connect to my PCM91 or am I going to need to use a later version of the Lexicon (or a 960L) or Altiverb for that to handle a straight digital 96K/24bit?

The PCM91 has a maximum sample rate of 48K, so you're not going to be able to feed it digitally. In addition, its internal data path is 20-bit instead of 24-bit. Depending on how you have it connected to your console, this may not matter much. Let's say you're feeding it analog with plenty of level. If you then duck your returns a typical amount (~15dB or so), you'll find that 20 bits are plenty. It's all about gain structure.

But if you really need 24/96, then the 960L or any of the PCM96 family are the real thing.

I think doing your work at 96K is fine. It's unfortunate that both SACD and DVD-A are commercial flops. Even worse that 128Kbit AAC seems to be the new "high-quality" standard. But hope springs eternal and perhaps true high-fidelity will get a second wind someday. Best for all of us if your production is done at the highest quality we have available. Good luck.