In the Preferences dialog box, click the Data tab to control how Adobe Audition handles audio data:

Auto‑Convert All Data To 32‑Bit Upon Opening

Converts all 8‑bit and 16‑bit data to 32‑bit when a file is opened. All subsequent operations occur in the 32‑bit realm.

Interpret 32‑Bit PCM .wav Files As 16.8 Float

Makes this version of Adobe Audition compatible with previous versions when handling 32‑bit PCM WAV files.

Dither Transform Results

Enables dithering when processing effects such as FFT Filter or Amplify. Adobe Audition does most processing using arithmetic greater than 16‑bit, with the results converted back to 16‑bit when complete. During this conversion, dithering provides a higher dynamic range and cleaner results, with fewer distortions and negative artifacts.

With this option enabled, you can approximate 24‑bit performance with 16‑bit data, because dithering increases dynamic range by about 10 dB. If this option is disabled, audio data is truncated to 16‑bit during reconversion, and more subtle information is lost.

The drawback of dithering is that each operation adds a small amount of noise at the quietest volume levels. However, the trade‑off between dithering (adding noise) and truncating the data (creating artifacts and limiting dynamic range) generally favors dithering, so it’s best to select this option.

Use Symmetric Dithering

Enables symmetric dithering. In most cases, it’s best to select this option. If it is not selected, a DC offset of one‑half sample is added each time data is dithered. Symmetric dithering has just as many samples added above zero as below zero. By contrast, nonsymmetric dithering just toggles between 0 and 1. Sometimes in a final dither, this may be desired to reduce the bit range of the dither. However, both methods produce identical audible results in every respect.

Smooth Delete And Cut Boundaries Over

Smooths cut and delete operations at the splicing point, preventing audible clicks at these locations. Applies only the boundaries over the number of milliseconds specified in the edit box.

Smooth All Edit Boundaries By Crossfading

Automatically applies a crossfade to the starting and ending boundaries of the selection. This option smooths any abrupt transitions at these end points, thus preventing audible clicks when filtering small portions of audio. You can enter a value (in milliseconds) in the crossfade time box to specify the crossfade duration.

Auto‑Convert Settings For Paste

When pasting different sample formats, Adobe Audition uses these settings when auto‑converting the clipboard to the current sample format.

Downsampling Quality Level

Enter a value from 30 to 1000. Higher values retain more high frequencies while still preventing the aliasing of higher frequencies to lower ones. A lower setting results in shorter processing time but also in the roll‑off of certain high frequencies, leading to muffled‑sounding audio. Because the filter’s cutoff slope is much steeper at higher quality settings, the chance of ringing at high frequencies is greater. Usually values between 80 and 400 are fully satisfactory for most conversion needs. The default value is 80.

Prefilter

Prevents aliasing at downsampling. The prefilter removes all frequencies above the Nyquist limit, thus keeping them from generating alias frequencies at the low end of the spectrum. In general, select this option for best results.

Upsampling Quality Level

Enter a value from 30 to 1000. Higher values retain more high frequencies while still preventing the aliasing of higher frequencies to lower ones. A lower setting results in shorter processing time but also rolls off certain high frequencies, leading to muffled‑sounding audio. Because the filter’s cutoff slope is much steeper at higher quality settings, the chance of ringing at high frequencies is greater. Values between 100 and 400 address most conversion needs. The default value is 120.

Use a higher Upsampling Quality Level value whenever you downsample from a high sample rate to a low rate. For upsampling, a lower value produces quality almost identical to a higher value. The difference lies in the larger phase shift that exists at higher frequencies, but since the phase shift is completely linear, it’s very difficult to notice. Downsampling, at even the lowest values, generally doesn't introduce any undesired noisy artifacts. Instead, the sound might be slightly muffled because of increased high‑end filtering.

Postfilter

Prevents aliasing at upsampling. The postfilter removes all frequencies above the Nyquist limit, thus keeping them from generating false frequencies at the low end of the spectrum. In general, select this option for best results.

Dither Amount For Saving 32‑Bit Data To 16‑Bit Files

Enables dithering when pasting 32‑bit audio to 16‑bit audio. The default value of 1 (bit) enables dithering, while a value of 0 disables dithering. For semidithering, choose a value of 0.5.

With dithering, you can approximate 24‑bit performance with 16‑bit data, because dynamic range increases by about 10 dB. This allows signals as quiet as –105 dB.

With this option enabled, you can approximate 24‑bit performance with 16‑bit data, because dithering increases dynamic range by about 10 dB.

Allow For Partially Processed Data After Canceling Effect

Determines what happens after you click the Cancel button while in the middle of applying an effect to a waveform. When selected, Adobe Audition leaves the effect applied to all data processed up until the point you clicked Cancel. When deselected, Adobe Audition automatically removes the effect on already processed data when you click Cancel.