This has probably been asked before...

[BroKen_H]

I understand that 24 bit is the depth of each sample (not a bit rate), and that 44.1khz or 96khz are the number of samples per second.
What can the human ear actually discern?
At what point are we needlessly throwing away hard disk space and bandwidth?
Do you use a higher setup for recording individual tracks and then use lesser for space when you mix to final product?

Personally, I believe that you should record at the highest setting you can work in for the purity of the tracks, but when it comes down to the final mix, it is only important to go beyond what we can discern.
There also may be genre issues. Some genres are going out to less discerning listeners, whereas others may go to people who listen intently.
Thoughts? Perspectives? Technical statistics?

 

[ashcat_lt]

Don't even...

 

[BroKen_H]

Is that a technical statistic?

 

[DM60]

There are many that will argue, but for sure, unless I am at the a very high end studio making very high end music, I pretty much stick to CD standard 16/44. If it was good enough for much of the music in the 80's and 90's, it should be good enough for me.

Maybe if I ever get good enough that I can tell/hear the difference, I would be willing to change my mind.

 

[Ethan Winer]

What can the human ear actually discern?

Anything higher than standard CD quality is pretty much a waste of storage space and bandwidth. There are some valid arguments for recording at 24 bits, mostly to allow for unexpected volume levels in a live concert setting. There's certainly no need for a sample rate higher than 44.1 or 48 KHz.

Personally, I believe that you should record at the highest setting you can work in for the purity of the tracks, but when it comes down to the final mix, it is only important to go beyond what we can discern.

Again, there's no need to record at high sample rates, and "purity" is probably the wrong word for that or for bit depth. The only thing bit depth affects is the noise floor. We've all heard hiss on analog tape, but did you ever hear hiss on a CD? Neither did I.

These videos explain a lot more than can fit in a forum thread:

Monty Montgomery explains digital audio
AES Audio Myths
AES Damn Lies

--Ethan