question about sample rate
- Thread starter woodjin
- Start date
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
The sample rate is 44.1ks/S... The Word length (a.k.a. "bit depth") is 16.
Higher sample rates = Higher frequency (although you'll find that around 75-80% of full-time industry professionals work at the target rate -- In this case, 44.1kHz for audio, 48kHz for video).
The bit depth is the resolution of the information and the downward headroom. 16-bit allows for around 65,000 possible points of resolution. 24-bit allows for 16.7 million possible points (theoretically, 256 times the resolution of 16-bit). Plus a 48dB lower floor -- A wider dynamic range than human hearing, a wider dynamic range than any of the gear you have. Also no dithering at the track level, so less noise.
So in short - There's nothing wrong with working at the target sample rate. But there's no reason NOT to work in 24-bit. Sure - you can (and WILL in the case of CD-Audio) dither down to 16-bit once the project is completely finished as a final delivery format - and your DAW is most likely throwing calculations in 32-bit (or even higher in some cases) for completely inhuman and almost non-realistic resolution. But working in 24-bit is a pretty safe bet...
Higher sample rates = Higher frequency (although you'll find that around 75-80% of full-time industry professionals work at the target rate -- In this case, 44.1kHz for audio, 48kHz for video).
The bit depth is the resolution of the information and the downward headroom. 16-bit allows for around 65,000 possible points of resolution. 24-bit allows for 16.7 million possible points (theoretically, 256 times the resolution of 16-bit). Plus a 48dB lower floor -- A wider dynamic range than human hearing, a wider dynamic range than any of the gear you have. Also no dithering at the track level, so less noise.
So in short - There's nothing wrong with working at the target sample rate. But there's no reason NOT to work in 24-bit. Sure - you can (and WILL in the case of CD-Audio) dither down to 16-bit once the project is completely finished as a final delivery format - and your DAW is most likely throwing calculations in 32-bit (or even higher in some cases) for completely inhuman and almost non-realistic resolution. But working in 24-bit is a pretty safe bet...