Sample rate is how many times per second your computer measures the sound. Bit depth is how precisely it measures each time. For most home recording, 24-bit at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz is the setting to use. Higher numbers make bigger files without an improvement most listeners can hear.
Quick answer: what to set
| Situation | Sample rate | Bit depth |
|---|---|---|
| Recording music at home | 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz | 24-bit |
| Music that will go with video | 48 kHz | 24-bit |
| Final file for CD | 44.1 kHz | 16-bit |
| Final file for streaming distributors | Check your distributor; 44.1 kHz, 16 or 24-bit WAV is widely accepted |
What sample rate means
Sound is a wave that changes all the time. To store it, your audio interface measures the height of the wave many times per second. Each measurement is a sample. A sample rate of 44.1 kHz means 44,100 measurements every second.
The sample rate sets the highest frequency you can record. A rule called the Nyquist theorem says you can capture frequencies up to half the sample rate. So 44.1 kHz captures sound up to 22,050 Hz, and 48 kHz up to 24,000 Hz. Human hearing is usually given as about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, so both cover the full range of what people hear.
Want to see which notes sit at which frequencies? Our note frequency chart lists every note in Hz.
Common sample rates
- 44.1 kHz: the CD standard, still common for music.
- 48 kHz: the standard for video and film, and a common default in DAWs and interfaces.
- 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz: used by some studios. They use about twice the processing power and disk space.
What bit depth means
Bit depth is how many steps each measurement can use. More bits give more steps, which means a wider gap between the quietest and the loudest sound you can store. That gap is called dynamic range.
Each extra bit adds about 6 dB of dynamic range. That gives:
- 16-bit: about 96 dB of dynamic range. This is the CD standard.
- 24-bit: about 144 dB of dynamic range.
The practical benefit of 24-bit is headroom. You can record at a safe, lower level without the quiet parts sinking into noise. That makes clipping, the harsh distortion you get when a signal goes over the top, much easier to avoid.
You may also see 32-bit float. Many DAWs use it inside the software for mixing, because a track can go over the top and be turned back down without being damaged. You still record at 24-bit with most interfaces.
Does a higher sample rate sound better?
For most home recordings, not in a way you will notice. 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz already cover the full range of human hearing. Higher rates double the size of your files and the load on your computer, which means fewer tracks and plugins before your project starts to stutter. Your microphone, your room and your mixing make a much bigger difference.
Pick one sample rate and keep it
What matters most is consistency. Set your DAW project and your audio interface to the same sample rate before you start. If they do not match, you can get playback at the wrong speed and pitch, or clicks and errors. Samples you import at a different rate are usually converted by the DAW automatically.
How file size grows
One minute of stereo audio, as a WAV file with no compression:
| Setting | About per minute (stereo) |
|---|---|
| 44.1 kHz, 16-bit | 10.6 MB |
| 48 kHz, 24-bit | 17.3 MB |
| 96 kHz, 24-bit | 34.6 MB |
Worked out as sample rate × bit depth × 2 channels × 60 seconds, divided by 8 for bytes.
Frequently asked questions
Should I record at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz?
Either is fine for music. Choose 48 kHz if the music will be used with video, since that is the video standard. Whichever you pick, keep the whole project at that rate.
Is 24-bit better than 16-bit?
For recording, yes. 24-bit gives far more headroom, so you can record at a safe level without adding noise. 16-bit is fine for a finished file, such as a CD master.
What is the sample rate of Spotify or a CD?
A CD is 44.1 kHz, 16-bit. Streaming services encode their own versions from the file your distributor sends, so check your distributor’s upload requirements for the format they accept.
Why does my recording play back at the wrong speed?
Usually because the DAW project and the audio interface are set to different sample rates. Set both to the same rate.
Setting up to record? Read what an audio interface does, and keep your timing tight with our free online metronome.
