Tips for working at 96k

96Khz recording is required only for instrument live recording!

If you use V.I. it is not a good idea, because almost samples are at 44.1 or 48 Khz

About Sound quality there is no difference at all, because the human ear can not perceive frequencies above 18000 Hz.
The best Sample rate is 48 Khz!
Also, don't forget to use a EQ plug that works with oversampling because the only reason for work at 96Khz is for avoid EQs artifacts,
Digital Equalizer comes with a limitation: when you try to adjust the EQ curve at 44,1 or 48, they add artfacts and distortion.
But, if you use a EQ plugin such as UAD Precision Equalizer, that works by converting at 192Khz any audio file, you have no reason to start a project at 96Khz!

G

Can You tell me, why 48 is the best sample rate, do you like convert sample rate one more time to get CD ?

48 KHz is not superior to 44.1. It's worse because you have to sample rate convert for cd.

Also, I disagree that working at higher sample rates is not perceivable. I can hear the difference.

I work at 88.2 so that if I have to go to 44.1 the conversion is mathematically better.

96000 slices of Audio a second is certainly more close to the original Audio information than 48000 slices a second concerning the digital quantization.

48 is the best for me:

1) 12% less latency with the same buffer setting
2) I'm talking as producer... the 48 Khz gives you the best CPU Power for Sound Quality ratio
3) ALL EQ pligins (also standard quality bundle EQ included in the Daws) works better at 48Khz (less artifacts)
4) Audio CD is no more a IS standard for Music supports... in most of cases you will use Mp3 or similar compression
5) Mp3 compression sound thousand times better at 48 Khz (less artifacts)

...and very important

I'm a composer and arranger and I (or you) must preserve the value of my works for the future and for the new generation of audio media supports.

Do not stay to listen to those who say that the conversion from 48 to 44.1 is dangerous for the sound quality, if you are the owner of the rights of your songs you must use the highest possible quality!...

there are not only CD Audio
Don't forget that you need a 48Khz version for your MTV video or for Super Audio Cds...

If you are a producer of your song, I suggest to use 48 Khz without too much Limiter and low quality Mastering tools!!

When I'm in Mastering phase I use Outboard Valve Class A preamp...
I need 48khz or higer sample rate..
also if you want make your mastering with UAD-1 Digital plugs... I need 48Khz 24 bit Mix...
because everything will be oversampled at 192Khz before obtain the final 44.1 ... or 48... or 96 khz final Mastering file!

G

On mastering phase you need 48 or 96 also for make a 44.1 Audio CD!
There are no problem to convert... because in a Mastering laboratory you can do everithing if the song is not compressed by using low quality Mastering plugs!

there are NOT advantages to create a original song project at 44.1... you can find only disadvantages.

If you thing that your music will be made ONLY for CD audio (only a beginner can think about audio CD as the sole audio media in the world)... only in this case I can suggest to use 44.1!

I think Video Music Media is the number one at this time!
(video require audio at 48 or 96 Khz 😉 )

G

Oh brother, guys.

The following is IMHO empirically true:

1. According to Dan Lavry and Digi, the ideal sample rate would be somewhere in the 60's, so the closer you are to it, the better.

2. Some plug-ins benefit from up-sampling to 96K, others not so much.

3. SRC is no longer as big a deal as it is vastly improved in Leopard.

4. When the average listener hears it as a compressed file on their iPod, they will not know the difference.

The next is subjective:

1. If you are a terrific engineer recording Sarah McLaughlin or the LSO with great mics, mic-pres, FX, et, you might want to use 88.2 or 96.

2. If you are working to film, use 48.

3. If you are a hip-hop, techno, or trance guy making that gawd-awful music you love for a CD, 44.1 is just fine.

Don't forget an Important thing!

All Audio interfaces works better at 48 Khz = Less Jitter.... and Less Artfacts.. because the internal Clock comes with about 12% more perfect sync

G

Ashermusic wrote:

3. If you are a hip-hop, techno, or trance guy making that gawd-awful music you love for a CD, 44.1 is just fine.

Also Music goes to the film...
but if your "hip-hop, techno, or trance" never will goes to a Music TV awards you don't require to Use 48.

There are no Limitation by using 48...
your Daws sound far better with massive tracks...
you will be able to make a more great Mixing... bacause you can earing better..

Mastering serves to make the "obsolete" audio CD 44.1

We live in 2008...
Stereo Mix is near to goes away...

Now we must make Surround Music!

G

3. SRC is no longer as big a deal as it is vastly improved in Leopard.

But it is a big deal if you aren't on Leopard, and any conversion will be better going from 88 to 44 than 96 to 44, no matter what converter.

The next is subjective:

2. If you are working to film, use 48.

Thats not subjective, thats a fact. 🙂

fermusic wrote:
Don't forget an Important thing!

All Audio interfaces works better at 48 Khz = Less Jitter.... and Less Artfacts.. because the internal Clock comes with about 12% more perfect sync

G

I disagree with most of what you say. The fact that you use a MOTU 828 is a good indicator.

If you want less jitter, use word clock from an external clock like a Lucid or Apogee. This will have way more impact than any 44 versus 48 issues.

88 or 96 sounds better than 44 or 48. Not much difference between 44 vs 48, or 88 vs 96.

Thats what my ears think.

The one thing I notice about working at 88 is that the system does not perform as well; less tracks, less plugins (although my new Mac Pro is great, so it's less of an issue these days). Since I work with picture mostly, I have gotten accustomed to making submixes, and doing overdubs against a stereo or a four track submix opens up the system performance again. I have found there are many advantages to thinking in terms of submixes and stems. But it really is a personal preference.

there is no difference...
if you use VSL for strings,,, they are at 44.1
(obviously if you use 96 you got more faster and perfect sync... but it is not useful because if you have a great Audio device Such as a new Motu 828Mk3 with DDS clock, or Apogee... you will never hear any difference... just got system overload)
the only way for use 48 is:

12% less latency at the same buffer range without unuseful ammount of CPU power request that is required for higest sample rate.
there are no reason for that
...
in the mastering phase there are no matematically conversion...
the sound process is more complex than a simple 1/2 calculation!!!


obviosly you are free to chose the best way... but you never will be able to listen any difference... this is a Human Limitation = up to 20 Khz... no one can listen anything more than that... except some Dog or other animals 😉 (Scientific Evidence)
In any case
CD Audio is at 44.1
and Movie is a 48!
that are the IS!

I prefer 48 for my original songs!

(there is no hearing difference if you use a EQ that make oversampling or use Analog conversion for make mastering with hardware outboard)

working and or mixing at 96k will always sound better.. bottom line.... yes working on music at 44100 using only soft synths that use no samples will sound amazing but when you start to use compressors and eq's at 96k you will notice big time that the over all sum and or mix of your song stands out.... MIXING at 96k provides more precision in getting the sum of your mix to sound more NATURAL.... and then of course when converting down to either cd format and or mp3 from 96k you will notice big time the preservation of the original audio...

mixing at 96k will also provide you with the ability to acquire a higher Master RMS with out sounding over compressed....

another way to create a great sounding mix down is to master your 44100 mix at 96k... bounce your 44100 song down in a stem like fashion ,,, drums, synths, guitars, vocals and so on.. then bring those stems into a new session working at 96k then apply your EQ and compression,,,,that process always yields amazing results....


the science behind HD audio is where the debate seems to be..... audible noise that is organic is HD in nature,, and when organic audio is captured at higher samples rates you are preserving all the frequencies that make up the original sound source,, those other frequencies you can not hear are the frequencies that make the frequencies you can hear sound the way they do..... now,, when producing music from scratch in the DAW,, like with using soft-synths that dont use samples,,, those soft-synths at 44100 are creating audio that is basically already HD ,, even at 44100,,, ... to gain HD audio from samples at 44100 they need to be re sampled and or re recorded at a higher sample rate,,, its a pain staking process but one way to gain HD from non HD samples is to re record the 44100 samples in the analog domain @96k,, and preferably with an outboard processor that can help create new audible characteristics,,, like an EQ and or Compressor.... but even with out using an outboard processor you are creating a fresh new HD recording of that sample and it will for sure be noticed one you start mixing it with any other HD audio that is present in the mix....

John Buehler wrote:

3. SRC is no longer as big a deal as it is vastly improved in Leopard.

But it is a big deal if you aren't on Leopard, and any conversion will be better going from 88 to 44 than 96 to 44, no matter what converter.

I'm always on the ultimate version of OS X... (because I don't use Digi hardware)
I'm on Leopard at this time!

The next is subjective:

2. If you are working to film, use 48.

Thats not subjective, thats a fact. 🙂

I know that... it is fact...
BUT when I start to composing a "brand new song", who knows its final destinations? ... I cannot start with 2 project of the same song (one at 44.1 and the same other one at 48 🙂... )
It is the time to make my choice...

and my choice is: start the project at 48Khz!!! (less latency, less artifacts, not so much ammount of CPU power request...
and I'm working with Leopard and UAD compressors and EQ.... they think about make oversampling when nedeed 😉 (also on Tiger)
I can only stay focused to make my best for my song!

The artistic value of your Music is obsolutely not related with sample rate or other technical data.
make your music and let your successes
everything else is an optional!

😉

G..ood luck!