SAMPLED

Mixing and mastering · updated 2026-08-16

DITHER

Low-level noise added when reducing bit depth so quantisation error becomes hiss instead of distortion.

A Solid State Logic Matrix mixing console with channel strips, faders and pan pots — the desk layout behind the gain, EQ and balance terms in this section.
Mixing and mastering — A Solid State Logic Matrix mixing console with channel strips, faders and pan pots — the desk layout behind the gain, EQ and balance terms in this section.

Photo: Solid State Logic (SSL) Matrix Mixing Console at Audio Mix House, Studio C (opens in a new tab) by Audio Mix House (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

Key takeaways

  • Low-level noise added when reducing bit depth so quantisation error becomes hiss instead of distortion.
  • It belongs at the very last step of the very last export, once per file.
  • Apply dither only when rendering a 24-bit master to a 16-bit deliverable.
  • Watch out: dithering multiple times through a chain of exports.
  • Sits under mixing and mastering in this glossary, with 2 primary sources below.

Quick checklist

  • Can you define dither in one sentence without looking?
  • Can you point at dither in a real session, mix or contract?
  • Have you tried the practical move above at least once?
  • Would you catch the common mistake before it costs you a take?
  • Have you opened one of the primary sources below rather than a forum thread?

DITHER IN DEPTH

Dither is low-level noise added when reducing bit depth, which randomises quantisation error so it becomes a soft hiss rather than correlated distortion. It belongs at the very last step of the very last export, once per file.

How it works in practice

Apply dither only when rendering a 24-bit master to a 16-bit deliverable.

The mistake people make

Dithering multiple times through a chain of exports. Each pass adds noise, and none of it is removable afterwards.

WHERE DITHER SITS

Dither belongs to mixing and mastering in the Sampled music glossary. The processing vocabulary, plus the loudness standards streaming services actually measure you against.

TEST YOURSELF

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3 quick questions on dither. Answers are marked instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.

  1. 1. Which statement best describes dither?

  2. 2. What is the mistake people most often make with dither?

  3. 3. In practice, which of these applies to dither?

Ready for the full thing? Take the 25-question terminology test and get a certificate with your name and score.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS

Free, primary references for dither — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material. Each one lists the line of this entry it backs up.

  • Xiph.org — digital audio primer (opens in a new tab)

    Open-source standards group · Xiph.Org Foundation

    “Low-level noise added when reducing bit depth so quantisation error becomes hiss instead of distortion.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: Xiph's write-ups are free, technically rigorous and famously careful about the myths around digital audio.

  • AES standards (opens in a new tab)

    Professional standards body · Audio Engineering Society

    “Dither is low-level noise added when reducing bit depth, which randomises quantisation error so it becomes a soft hiss rather than correlated distortion.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: AES writes and reviews the engineering standards and peer-reviewed papers this terminology comes from.

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