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44.1KHz vs 48KHz vs 96KHz vs 192KHz

Fiverr Music & Audio
#1

Ohhh, this is one of my favourite topics. As professional I use to deliver my works at 48KHz and 24bit. I think it’s a good professional quality, and I’m sure the customer can listen to it.

I can hear the difference between 44.1KHz and 48KHz in a good hifi system (more brilliance and defined sound). 96KHz and 192KHz are more academical stuff. I mean that it’s difficult to hear the difference with common music. BUT if you use specific synthesizers, as example, the difference is HUGE! more harmonics, more high frequencies. Definition is superb! Indeed 192KHz would be my choice but customers could not appreciate or have a machine capable to read it. So better to go back to well known 48KHz.

9 Likes
#2

Human hearing has limits as to what it can audibly discern. From listening to people who are far more geared up and technically inclined than I am, it seems 24 bit 48 KHz sample rate is the go-to standard, unless you are specifically recording audio for CD’s, then it’s the standard of 44.1 KHz.

There is the issue of possible anti-aliasing with lower sample rates, and also the possible “lack” of something found in the inaudible ultrasonic range, but the downsides of much larger files, possible errors introduced from digital audio converters that are not completely up to the task for such high sample rates, and the vast majority of consumers not being audiophiles and lacking audiophile level equipment make 44.1 KHz and 48 KHz far more feasible in my completely novice opinion.

Some interesting video links related to the topic:


As for the difference in bit depth between 24 and 32, there is a definite advantage with 32 in that clipping audio becomes virtually impossible. But such a quality is debatable in need as anyone who works with audio who’s worth their salt will attenuate their levels beforehand so that clipping does not occur. But it does help in instances such as where one is recording someone whispering and then suddenly shouting!

3 Likes
#3

Out of point, but when i saw the topic, i thought this was a stress-relief topic where we are just supposed to play with numbers :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

1 Like
#4

I absolutely agree, so you can imagine my surprise when I started my DSP cards (with sharc chips) at 96KHz and started playing a Moog like synth managed by the cards. The sonic difference was outstanding compared to 44KHz or 48KHz. Considering that I don’t think my ear can get above 20000Hz… how could that possible? But I hear clearly a difference in brilliance, details and presence of the sound.

#5

Try all of this in a real blind A-B test and then see how well people do?

16/44 renders the usable 20Hz-20khz human hearing range perfectly. Unless the DA process is terribly broken (or your converter cost 2 cents) there is no damage done inter-sample. That is just a terrible myth made up by anti-digital people who are anti-reading about their subject they claim to be so passionate about.

While technically higher sample rates can and do deliver different results, they are not necessarily better. Tech-minded people just like to think they are so they can get excited about their gear. Fine but that is not fact. Ok so it is a fact that James feel that way he does about his 24/192 converter into his Cambridge Pre but it is not universal fact, the sort of fact NASA would use to plot a course to Mars.

Oversampling sometimes makes things sound nicer, sometimes not. Use ears.

Ultimately it all has to be 16/44 to go on CD.

And then everyone will listen using a data compression process via a $29 plastic tub with a fake Beatz logo over Bluetooth.

:slight_smile:

2 Likes
#6

I thought someone was trying to make us take a math test!!

BTW my math grades were quite horrible back in school…

1 Like
#7

My teacher lost hope that I will even get passing marks in the math subject! Lol :joy:

Math Hate me. :no_mouth::pleading_face:

1 Like
#8

ah, that’s obvious. but about my “synth” story, I swear it’s all truth. What I can say is that probably the different conversion creates a different sonic result for the synth but it’s not related to the Hz in specific. I can’t find another reason.

#9

Oh indeed a DSP synth will sound quite different with different rates as the harmonics (or distortion) get delivered differently. Mostly that is nicer as the signal becomes purer, but sometimes that purer signal is not as enjoyable.

:slight_smile: