Sample Rates... What?

[superwack]

Both sample rate conversion and MP3 conversion are lossy/damaging processes... are you recording at 48K/24BIT then converting to MP3 or are you going 48K/24BIT to 44/16 to MP3? What bit rate are you making your MP3s at?

[TimOBrienFlorida]

Unless you are doing video (where the final file is 16bit/48k) there is NO reason for you to record at 48k. As you have noted, conversions can give you problems and the meager 15% extra bit depth is worthless.

Set you system at 24bit/44.1k and forgetaboutit. There are more important things to worry about.

[johnnyv]

I've been recording at 48/24 and when I export the finished song I do it at 44.1/16. so that it can be burned directly to a CD. I have never noticed any difference. Are you dithering? This sounds like bad export/ converting software to me. Which DAW do you use? I will agree that recording at 44.1 is more than fine for a home studio.

[npulsipher]

Thanks for the replies. I use reaper most of the time, so it may just be poor conversion software. I'll try converting in Cubase (AI6) and see if that fixes the problem.