Which Sample Rate and Bit Depth for General Use?

I want to set my sample rate and bit depth once and for all!

Currently running at 48khz 16 bit and sounding good (to me there was an obvious difference dropping it down to 44.1khz).

I know quite a few people on here go with 44.1khz 24 bit, so do you still get 64 voice capability at that setting?

I guess 44.100khz sample rate / 16bit depth is the standard. works just fine as I believe.. me personally, everything I record from the 4k to Cubase I go with 24 bit. can´t complain about the results

A long time ago I recorded something in 48K by accident on a computer. When it was rendered in 44.1K it went really flat, the stereo image was shot to bits. Apparently it needs a really good dithering program to get it to sound remotely right if its going to end up as 44.1 ie a CD.

Stuff recorded in 44.1 sounded far better because it didn't need re-rendering. Now I'm skeptical of 96K for the same reasons. Wouldn't it be better to do 88.2K and give the rendering process an easier time?

I do 24 bit 96, sounds best to me

MPCdawk wrote:I want to set my sample rate and bit depth once and for all!

Currently running at 48khz 16 bit and sounding good (to me there was an obvious difference dropping it down to 44.1khz).

I know quite a few people on here go with 44.1khz 24 bit, so do you still get 64 voice capability at that setting?

24bit all day, you must sacrifice 32 voices though.

LZ Roberts wrote:A long time ago I recorded something in 48K by accident on a computer. When it was rendered in 44.1K it went really flat, the stereo image was shot to bits. Apparently it needs a really good dithering program to get it to sound remotely right if its going to end up as 44.1 ie a CD.

AFAIK dithering is only about bit depth changes, but I totally believe what you heard - dithering and sample rate conversion has to be done on pretty decent professional gear to be good. Digital audio manipulation is a bit of a black art IMO.

kaybee wrote:

MPCdawk wrote:I want to set my sample rate and bit depth once and for all!

Currently running at 48khz 16 bit and sounding good (to me there was an obvious difference dropping it down to 44.1khz).

I know quite a few people on here go with 44.1khz 24 bit, so do you still get 64 voice capability at that setting?

24bit all day, you must sacrifice 32 voices though.

Thanks everybody!

Don't think I can go with 32 voice until I know how much polyphony I'll ultimately need.

MPCdawk wrote:

kaybee wrote:

MPCdawk wrote:I want to set my sample rate and bit depth once and for all!

Currently running at 48khz 16 bit and sounding good (to me there was an obvious difference dropping it down to 44.1khz).

I know quite a few people on here go with 44.1khz 24 bit, so do you still get 64 voice capability at that setting?

24bit all day, you must sacrifice 32 voices though.

Thanks everybody!

Don't think I can go with 32 voice until I know how much polyphony I'll ultimately need.

You CAN use 24-bit without sacraficing polyphony its ONLY when you go to 96k you lose voices!