Recording at high sample rates.

[vibrato]

Hi! One and All...

I have been curious about recording at high sample rates. Well, higher than 44.1 Khz.

I recently started doing a Ligeti inspired - massive piece with a lot of sounds building a huge layer and I did this piece in 88.2 Khz.

My question is, with the samples already in 44.1 and everything done from samples and other virtual instruments - does it make sense to record at high sample rates?

In my personal opinion - I thought that the new Ligeti inspired piece sounded really well when recorded at 88.2 Khz. But, I have never done something like it before - so may be I am excited about the sonic adventure and wrongfullly giving too much credit to 88.2 Khz.

Can anyone share his/her experience? Does it make sesne to do this?

I know 24 bits is the right thing to do and I havnt done a session in 16 bit to date. And it does make a difference. But, what about sampling rates? Specially with NON-LIVE sounds.

Thanks.

Best,
Tanuj.

[Dietz]

Hetorey already gave you good advice, Vibrato.

For a plain mix of several tracks, you gain nothing from higher SRs as long as these audio-streams are already 44.1 kHz. As soon as you plan to do processing - especially EQing - you _may_ recognise _some_ improvement by using upsampled versions of your audio. In this case, I would keep the sample-rate high until mixdown, and convert the final mix to the desired lower rate with some high-quality SRC. (... this has _nothing_ to do with changing the bit-depth from 24 bit to 16 bit, as you most certainly know).

That said, I have to admit that all the demos I mixed for the Vienna Symphonic Library during the years were 44.1 kHz, and I still like the sound. [;)]

All the best,

[hetoreyn]

@Dietz said:

Hetoreyn already gave you good advice, Vibrato.

High praise indeed. Glad I got it right! [:D]

[Nick Batzdorf]

They were also using 16-bit samples, right Dietz?

The truth is that all of this is pretty subtle.

[Dietz]

Not all, but most of them. The difference is subtle, but it's definetly there and perceptible. The more tracks are in use, the more the bit-depth of the single tracks seems to matter (although plain logic would tell us the other way 'round).

The advantages of higher sample-rates are most certainly less obvious. The biggest benefit is during recording, as the A/D-converter can rely on much softer anti-aliasing filters.

[Dietz]

You're welcome.

[Nick Batzdorf]

Oh, there's definitely an improvement with 24-bit audio. It wasn't all hype when the industry shifted to the 24-bit production standard a few years ago. What I meant is that the 16-bit VSL still sounds excellent.