Delta 44's...can I just lock'em and leave 'em @96K, for example?

[superspit]

Hi,
Just a techy question for the more techy type!!.........
I'm doing the following anyway, but would appreciate your expertise ?

Can you see a problem if I set my 2 Delta 44's to a 'locked rate' of 96000hz (for arguement sake), while playing back any wave file that is not 96K....ie. all of my stuff is in 44.1 or 48. Everything goes via CEP2.1 (if that really matters). Must I match their rates to their 'native' environment?
In essence....all waves still work fine, but could you see any problems with this? I can't hear any problems. delays, crackle...just nice playing waves...
EXAMPLE....
If I want to, say, 're-master' a track, CEP will play out thru delta>into desk>insert processors>back into other Delta to be re-recorded back onto CEP...the file being played might be 44.1 and CEP is set to 44.1, but both Delta's are set to , say, 96k,...all sounds sweet...I am sursprised that 'it' doesn't seem to mind being used this way.
As an excercise,If I go to, say, 8000hz on the delta44 then everything sounds like a crystal radio, which is what I expected.
I have not mentioned Bit-Depth, as I can't see how that's got anything to do with this particular question...

your thoughts of potential probs? Hope you understand my thoughts.??
Regards....

 

[Robert D]

Hmmm, I wonder if the 44 is doing on the fly up-sampling? If so, this isn't really a good thing.

 

[ocnor]

I'm wondering why you would want to lock your rate at 96 if your files are all 44.1? Why create the potential for errors with no logical reason?

 

[superspit]

I'm wondering why you would want to lock your rate at 96 if your files are all 44.1? Why create the potential for errors with no logical reason?

mmmmm....just practicality I guess?
But, Now you're talking....how could I create potential errors? In what form would they show themselves.
My files can vary from 8k to 48k and some at 96k. !! ((Kookey))
They all playback without a problem! But you can hear the quality change very well too, as K gets higher.
Thanx for responses so far.
Superspit

 

[Jim Y]

It's Windows that's supplying the sample-rate conversion. As matter of interest, a lot of cheap on-board audio chips and some soundcards are locked at 48Khz to save the cost of an extra crystal and some selection logic.
Where you would come unstuck is with pro-audio apps using the soundcard drivers in ASIO or WDM/KS modes. The playback and recording would then be at the wrong speed for other than 96Khz, since Windows sample-rate converter isn't available.

CEP uses Windows sound system (MME), so has the use of the rate converter. Be aware that sample-rate conversion causes some distortion and noise, particularly using the Windows one.

Many Delta card users select "reset-rate on idle" to their usual working project rate whatever that may be. However, this can cause pops on start & stop due to the cards hardware getting new commands to change rate, although these should not get into recordings.

Safer is to uncheck everyting, and get into the habit of checking the Delta Panel settings by eye to be sure you have the correct rate. It should automatically change to the one used by your current project. You will often find it set to 22050Hz - this is the rate of Windows system sounds. Many turn the sound scheme to none to avoid this happening.