Why would anyone want to convert an audio file to a higher bitrate?

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geneticfunk

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In Cubase, when you import an audio file that is at a bit rate of less than the project's "record" bitrate, Cubase offers the option to increase the sample's bitrate to the project's "record" bitrate.

Is there any case where it would be useful to make the conversion? (aside from the case of the person who enjoys wasting storage space =p)
 
Sure, so the audio engine and plugins etc... can work more fluidly with the file:)
 
If you start a project and its set at say 96, and you want to record, then it will record at 96.
Now if you chuck in a bunch of samples that are say, 44.1, then the sample rates of all the audio files won't be matched, and you will find that the 44.1 samples sound like they are playing at the wrong speed.
So when you import a sample, you need to convert it to be that same as the project if it isn't already. Unless you are importing a sample purely for reference and aren't actually going to put it in the tune. Then it doesn't matter. The sample will play back as normal in the pool window whatever rate its at, but they all need to be matched if they are going on the grid together.

At least that seems to be the case to me. Hope this helps :)
 
For me, it only gets sped up or slowed down like that if I DO convert the sample rate of the file to the projects sample rate.
 
legionserial said:
If you start a project and its set at say 96, and you want to record, then it will record at 96.
Now if you chuck in a bunch of samples that are say, 44.1, then the sample rates of all the audio files won't be matched, and you will find that the 44.1 samples sound like they are playing at the wrong speed.
So when you import a sample, you need to convert it to be that same as the project if it isn't already. Unless you are importing a sample purely for reference and aren't actually going to put it in the tune. Then it doesn't matter. The sample will play back as normal in the pool window whatever rate its at, but they all need to be matched if they are going on the grid together.

At least that seems to be the case to me. Hope this helps :)
That's all good, Legion, but he's talking about bitrate not sampling rate, so there is no speed issue. Personally, I don't bother converting the bitrate, there really is no need, and it doesn't matter. If you chug in a 16bit file into a 32bit project, even if the file itself is at 16bit, all subsequent processing will be done at 32bit.
 
Oops my bad, doh, sorry bout that. Yeah of course bitrate. No I never bother with that either. :)
 
Cubase can work with files of different bitrates simultaneously, but I would imagine that it would be more efficient if it had all files at the same bitrate. Upconverting from 16 to 24 bit shouldn't hurt anything, but only add the possibility for it to be a little better as you use it in your app (Assuming you apply anything directly to the waveform).
 
AAAAARRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!

IT'S BIT DEPTH!!!! Bit rate is for mp3s and other compressed data streams.

And to answer the question, if you leave the file at 16 bit, any offline processing you do will be truncated back to 16 bit. Every time. If you don't do offline processing, it won't matter because the mixer is always at 32 bit float.
 
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