Preamp difference : if it's not the frequency, not the slew rate, and not the harmonics, what is it ?

[RoadrunnerOZ]

With Cubase the interface handling is automatic but what is sent to it is the selected output software bus which has the option of inserting a plug-in. If no dither plug is inserted the software does its own form of downscaling. Like ProTools, Cubase has a hardware bus matrix that allows the creation of named and numbered inputs annd outputs selectable from within the DAW.
For file export you can select any or all available tracks from the audio mixer whether a single track, multiple tracks, group bus or main outs.
There are external effects sends and returns with delay compensation that allow round robin ping to establish delay in send/return path and set the time advanced playback of the software bus to have zero insert delay - the delay compensation is sample accurate.
There is also a pre-record function you can set to record in advance a selectable number of seconds on any record enabled track - this ensures no late dropins or missed starts.
For using hardware inserts for exporting the render is done in real time, if no external fx are used the render can be accelerated by deselecting the real time export.

 

[scott2000]

Cubase 6.5 is running internally at 32 bit float - if you import a 24 bit file into a project set to 24 it (the file) remains at 24 bit in the pool but if it is processed with a change and played back, as a 32 bit file it gets converted back to 24 - if you record a new recording sampling at 24 bit it gets internally converted to 32 bit file format and downconverts in playback to 24 bit fixed file format.

I think I may have figured out what was happening. When having the original 24bit file and recorded 24bit file on top of each other, with one or the other muted, the files would play back with 32bit processing. If I slide the tracks out of each other's way on the timeline, they both go back to playing at 24bit.
So the mute is a process , and it affects even the unmuted/soloed track if they share the same timeline I'm guessing? Even when muting or soloing when they are at different places on the timeline, they play back without any 32bit processing.......weird..... interesting....