Adjusting the volume within desktop apps like Spotify, Apple Music etc - what is happening?

[Music1969]

Hello

So I have a USB DAC connected to my Mac and am playing Apple Music or Tidal.

I assume this question can apply to Windows also.

If I reduce the volume within the desktop app itself, obviously playback is no long 'bit perfect'.

But there is no resampling happening. Sample rate of the music is same that is input to USB DAC.

So at a technical level, what is actually happening to 'the bits'?

Before someone chimes in, no I'm not worried about any audible consquences.

Just curious

 

[tomtoo]

Hello

So I have a USB DAC connected to my Mac and am playing Apple Music or Tidal.

I assume this question can apply to Windows also.

If I reduce the volume within the desktop app itself, obviously playback is no long 'bit perfect'.

But there is no resampling happening. Sample rate of the music is same that is input to USB DAC.

So at a technical level, what is actually happening to 'the bits'?

Before someone chimes in, no I'm not worried about any audible consquences.

Just curious

Technicaly happens a substraction of two numbers,

 

[abdo123]

the signal gets lower digitally, noise floor remains the same. S/N is reduced. Shouldn't be a concern if you don't hear hiss from the speakers.

 

[Dumdum]

The bit depth total remains the same I think, the pc just reduces the use of the bits so the volume is lowered, so it moves everything down the steps so to speak, at least this is how my brain thinks of it