Sound Card Recording 44.1 vs 48?

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

Hey Tech-heads,

Just got off of a chat with a Sony tech, and got an answer I didn't expect.

Been having a recording latency issue with my system where it loses 0.5 seconds every minute of recording. I noticed it doesn't happen at 32kHz, and assumed there was a hardware issue with my sound card.

Turns out (according to Sony), recording at 44.1 has issues on a number of sound cards. 48kHz is the suggested level... Whoa! Who knew that?

I tried it, and sure enough, my system has no problem at 48kHz.

So, is this right? Did he know what he was talking about, or am I getting the bum's rush?

Learn me some schoolin',
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

P.S. Big Kudos to Colin for his assist in nailing the issue down Wink

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Joe-
If it works, I would say that is it.

If you still need it in 44.1 can't you that re-sample thing?

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

I don't know about programs, but occasionally you will see a lead come in that says they want it in 44.1 16 bit or something.

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

(bump)

I guess I AM crazy!

Frank Frederick · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 142

No, you are NOT crazy. Some sound-cards do have a problem with latency at 44.100 kHz. The reason is simple; yet complex, and has to do with ASIO, samples, and programming.

Many cards are not designed to accept controls outside of their own environment. This is related to the sound cards design and how the numbers are crunched.

As an example - some (many) M-Audio cards do not work well if they are not controlled via ASIO drivers - which are supplied specifically for M-Audio cards. ASIO works in relation to how the legnth and timing of each specific sample is put into the samples respective place. It also (most often) works only with 48 KHz. When in 44.1 mode some samples will be dropped as they do not have the alogrithm to support samples that may have been a bit late or a bit different.

What this translates to is: several thousand samples of the audio are simply missing. Therefore resulting in the "latency" (which is not exactly the correct term, but I will live with it for the moment) observed.

IF, and I repeat that, IF your computer processing is fast enough, If you have enough RAM, If your periferals are rated at high enough speed, if your cables are correct, and If your sound card is not based upon the computers processor for computing the numbers of samples... you will have no/less problems.

Until all the above described problems are resolved... record at 48 k; re-sample to 44.100 kHz, and enjoy... maybe you require this step, and maybe you do not... but it will become part of your routine IF you let it be.

Frank Frederick
"The Voice" tm

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

Wow, Thanks Much Frank!

Great answer. Being a coder, I can understand exactly what you're saying... Makes more sense now.

48kHz for me!

Thanks again - really appreciate it,
Joe

Thom Wilkins · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 587

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521

Chris Heier · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 13

I can second what Thom is saying. There is a wordpress plugin I use for my website chrisheier.com that allows you to load an MP3 into a flash plugin easily. The thing is that it has to be sampled in certain rates. 44.1k is one of them. I don't think this is an issue with the plugin as much is it is actually an issue with Flash, which is what Thom's comment would lead me to believe.