[bachstudies]

I think there's some misunderstanding here. We are after 24-bit plus the 8 bits consisting of the floating volume part (= 32-bit float). With 2 or 3 convertors the ability to record without setting level is certainly possible without any loss of accuracy! There's clearly some magic happening beneath the surface that only the companies themselves know about but all I can say is that the Zoom and Sound Devices work as advertised. Gain setting is, indeed, unnecessary in 32-bit float mode. You are essentially only limited by the dynamic range of your microphones.