View Single Post
  #13   Report Post  
Mike Rivers
 
Posts: n/a
Default 16 bit vs 24 bit, 44.1khz vs 48 khz <-- please explain


In article writes:

Ok, so I understand that 44.1k is 44,100 samples per second and 48k is
48,000 samples per second. Obviously 48,000 is better.


Obviously, but do you understand why, and why it might not be better
sometimes?

I'm not exactly
sure what bit rate is though? CDs are 16 bit, DVDs are 24. What exactly
does that mean though?


That's actually the length of the digital word that represents the
voltage of each sample. The more bits, the greater the resolution, and
the greater the potential for accuracy. Of course the actual accuracy
is a function of how good the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog
converters that use that digital word is.

Another question - if I'm recording a project to audio CD, is it better to
just record at 16/44 since that's what the CD will be anyway, and I can save
system resources?


You'll save some disk space. As to whether it's better, it depends on
what you're going to do between making the recording and making the
CD.

I read in the ProTools book by Berklee
Press that its best to record on LE using 24/44 since you won't hear much
difference between the 48k and 44.1k. Any insights into this?


I believe that most people won't. Every mathematical process that you
avoid (like changing the sample rate) means there's less chance to
change the sound. But as a beginner, your auditory perception isn't
likely to be acute enough to make these judgements yourself by
listening, so you might as well take someone's word for it.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo