Bluesound NODE2 to connect to Phantom

[Gremlin]

Hi, Gremlin.

For your example of guitar and singer: this is why many times you record them separately, each with different gain, such that you get maximal dynamic range captured. What's the point in recording in 24bit if you're only going to use 10bits and zeros in the rest?
This of it this way: even if you recorded a singer shouting right into the microphone and play at a much lower volume at home, the same dynamic range can be reproduced, mapped into your new range of sound pressures. If your equipment is good enough, even at very low volume you will be able to distinguish the detail of the original recording.

The difference between Phantom getting a 12bit stream and a 24bit stream is that in the same volume level, you are reconstructing the original audio stream either from a 12bit or 24bit data. The fact that this extra data is lost on the way to Phantom means it is not receiving the extra data that would allow it to reconstruct the sound to a higher accuracy.
Whether that makes a difference for you personally is a different question, and is better suited to some kind of a "Is there a difference between 16bit and 24bit audio" thread.
The Phantom is able to provide you with highly detailed playback even at lower levels.

Wrong again, I'm afraid.

It matters not one jot whether it is the Phantom or the provided data stream that reduces or increases the loudness. There is no loss of data, just manipulated data, and at which end the manipulation happens is of no consequence to anyone. And there is certainly no loss of information that any human without special powers would be able to discern.

And however the recording is made, the master will have some sounds louder than others. Do you really think that an orchestra playing a crescendo is better reproduced at the noisy bit rather than the quieter bit? Because, if so, you would be obviously wrong.

And as I said before, the number of bits involved has nothing to do with resolution, only dynamic range. The sampling frequency is what determines resolution.