sample rate/format conversion

[SANTI]

I usually record and mix in 48k/24bits with DP/
MOTU2408. When is the best moment to convert to
44.1k/16 bits ? Right after the mix, so the mastering process affects the final format, or after mastering ?

[ppxstnr]

Last Minute is best

[David Klausner]

If you have to do a sample rate conversion, do it as the last step. Unless you have some other reason for doing 48KHz recording (transferring from 48KHz ADATs, etc), you are probably better off doing your whole project at 44.1 if you want to make CD's at the end. All sample rate converters produce artifacts, and you will probably find that whatever benefit you may have gained by doing a slightly higher sample rate in the beginning, is offset by the conversion at the end.

[simon784]

I always like to listen to my work as it will sound at the end.
That allows me to add or susbtract stuff over ther real thing.
That is why I record at 44.1 and 16 bits.

[DAS]

I tend to agree with the above, but it should be noted that there is an increasing movement among the big mastering guys that indicates they prefer to receive material at the highest sample rate you can muster. They feel that the real, high end (read expensive) sample rate conversion systems they use are now transparent enough that there is benefit to getting the work at the higher rate and then converting it.

Generally the sample rate conversion most of us mortals have access to is not up to these standards and we often are better just doing our work at 44.1k.

Bit depth is another matter. It's relatively easy to get from 24 bits down to 16 and almost everyone agrees that there is a clear sonic improvement so I would endorse recording at 24 bit whenever possible.