Thanks, I have seen that, and it probably is the main reason I feel negative about the 32 bit float. They completely fail to explain why 32 bit and why float. Well maybe the reasons are there, but one has to look very carefully.
They say "The dynamic range that can be represented by a 32-bit (floating point) file is 1528 dB. Since the greatest difference in sound pressure on Earth can be about 210 dB, from anechoic chamber to massive shockwave, 1528 dB is far beyond what will ever be required to represent acoustical sound amplitude in a computer file. "
So what is the point of having more than 210 db dynamic range. Well the 24 bit is only 144 db, but is there any microphone that can handle 144 db?
They say" There is one other aspect of 32-bit float files which is not immediately obvious. Files recorded with 32-bit float record sound where 0 dBFS of the 32-bit file lines up with 0 dBFS of the 24- or 16-bit file. "
Not sure, but maybe this is why float is useful, but not sure, if 16 bit and 24 bit integers line up, so why would 32 bit not? There is just as many different levels on 32 float and integer.
I guess the true advantage is that one can go and scale up very low level from 32 bit recording to 16 bit and maintain all the details that would have been there if it was properly recorded at 16 bit. And maybe on that the float helps, but not sure why it would.
I am engineer so I do care how things work and do get some what irritated when SoundDevices gives "32-Bit Float Files Explained" with plenty of technical details, but completely loosing what they where about to explain.