24-bit microphones (RecordingHacks.com)

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Definition of "24-bit":

24 bit is a measure of the “bit depth” of a digital audio signal. The bit depth is simply the count of “bits” (binary digits) that are used to represent each sample of music. Each bit can store a 0 or a 1; the combination of these 24 on/off flags can represent numbers from 0 to 16,777,216. Note that this is 256 times more resolution than provided by 16-bit devices.

Professional and even “prosumer” recording gear commonly operates at 24 bit; the higher resolution allows greater dynamic range and greater signal-to-noise ratios.

Read more about 16-bit vs. 24-bit audio. See also this extensive discussion of proper gain levels for 24-bit recording.