What sample rate is everyone using?

[innermusic]

Curious as to what professionals are using for recording audio. In my prior life I was using digital multi-track tape at 44.1 khz. My interface allows me to choose 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 khz. I assume I should be using 88.2, staying with a mutiple of the CD format, but not sure what the best option is.

I also notice that everything on the internet seems to be at 44.1 - why is that? Is it just about conserving bandwith on the downloads?

[John_Toolbox]

44.1 is the standard for CD's and music.
48 is the standard for film/video.

The higher sample rates are multiples of these two standards. While your ear technically shouldn't be able to hear the difference between the two, the argument for recording at higher sample rates is that you have 2x or 4x more audio, which is less likely to accumulate artifacts as you add mixing and processing.

I generally work at 48 since I'm usually scoring music to video, and most using sample libraries. If I record a live musician, and it's something worth keeping a higher resolution archive I might want to revisit later on, I will usually record it at 96k or 192k just because I can, it's nice to have a higher resolution original recording in case I ever come back to the project in a few years.

But most of the time 48k it where I work.

[capt kirk]

i do high end post , where we deliver 48khz , which is fine. i also do high end acoustic music, where we record 192khz, and then downsample depending on the deliverable. quite frankly 96khz is perfectly fine as well. we record at 192 because we can but some sytems really choke when doing punches etc....

[DJ Hellfire]

I work in 48. CD is dying format. Don't really see the need to continue support for it. They are good for handing out at shows and stuff, but I think it's time to move on to something better. iPods and iPhones can play 24bit/48kHz, and probably even higher. Media storage pricing is going down and the capacities are going up. This is why I offer my album in 24bit/48kHZ, which is what I record in, in addition to CD format and MP3. But I think it's time for engineers or someone to increase CD quality.

[TCM]

I usually use 44.1 for music.

[So Serious]

44.1-48k is good enough for music consumption by the general public,
96k is preferred for mastering
anything higher is a personal choice but not necessary to get a better result.

[innermusic]

So no one is using 88.2?

[Drew Mazurek]

Make records that kick ass at 44.1, then try moving up. Unless your work is KILLING already, you're wasting your time IMO.

[Nightworker]

I always use 96 k.

[capt kirk]

some situations 48k is perfectly fine.....but on very expert acoustic music, you will hear and appreciate the difference 96k makes. 88.2 seems to be getting left behind, like 44.1, for the stated reasons...48/96 is the way to go. 192 is overkill, but we use it for the high end music stuff....