Recording sample rates

[Window-Licker]

Okie maybe its a stupid question, but what difference does the sample rate make? im using a creative audigy 2 platinum, and line6 tone port, ive been recording at 48000 through the toneport itself and have tried recording through an sm57 mic at 48000, mainly asking because ive seen a sound card that records upto 192000 which seems pure madness unless it really does offer much difference.

[Searcher]

Sample rate has to do with the sound quality of the finished recording.  For most audio applications 44100 is fine.  For soundtracks or anything going in a film, 48000 is good.

The level the soundcard goes to is ridiculous.  As far as I know, most CD players only read at a level of 44100, so no one is gonna be able to hear the music at any higher level anyways.  It'd be like wearing a tux to go work out at the gym.

[Muttley]

The higher the bit-rate, the more information is stored for the sound so it does sound better.  OK, for CD you need to downsample to 44100, but if all the preliminary recording and mixing is at a high bit rate the overall quality will still be better when the final downsample is performed.

Higher bitrates of course mean more disk-space usage, and a generally higher CPU load.

Muttley

[Muttley]

This might clarify things a bit better than I can explain them: http://arts.ucsc.edu/EMS/Music/tech_background/TE-16/teces_16.html

Muttley