Re: [alsa-devel] [PATCH v2 2/2] drm/bridge: adv7511: restrict audio sample sizes

[Arnaud Pouliquen <arnaud.pouliquen@st.com>]

Hello Srinivas,

On 08/01/2017 02:52 PM, Srinivas Kandagatla wrote:
>>>> As example, if you configure bus in Left justified format with 24 bits
>>>> sample length, 32 bits application samples should be truncated to 24
>>>> bits samples at ADV7533 I2S interface level (LSB dropped).
>>
>>> May be we can do that to make the user happy but isn't this just truncate
>>> the resolution to 24Bit then?
>>
>>> And it's a false indication that we are supporting 32bit samples.
>>> Which am not very happy with.
>>
>> This is what the sample_bits field in the DAI structure is for.ya.
> But still reporting that driver supports 32 bit samples when it does not 
> really support all 32 bits, is kinda misleading to user.
> Isn't it?
> 
> And the driver would be end up with hacked up code for each case.

By experience, this is usual. As example, if you have a look to codec
ad193x (i take one randomly) it support 16, 20, 24 and 32 bits frames.
But if you have a look to AD1939 data-sheet it supports 24-bits conversion.
Some other examples could be 13-bits DAC/ADC with 16 bits samples.

In term of audio quality, truncation to a 24 bits sample should generate
an negligible additional error equal to the LSB bit: -20log(2^24)= -144dB.

It is just a personal opinion, but if have the choice between do
truncation in software (application or alsa-lib) and in hardware, i
would prefer the second one.

Regards
arnaud