Can You Hear the Difference?

Question

Seriously. I can hear the difference between 16 bit and 24 bit and 44.1 and 48kHz. I recorded the same acoustic guitar part through a Line6 PodXT Pro this evening at 96kHz and 48kHz, both at 24 bit - I can't hear it. I can crank it and of course I lose the objectivity (but it sounds good) and at low volumes I'm not hearing the voodoo that makes 96kHz so 'magical'.
When I record in 192kHz I get a Core Audio Overload. Go figure. But seriously, am I alone here or is this level of hearing for mastering engineers supreme? What do you record at, and if it's 96kHz or more, do you just pass it on at that rate to your mastering guys?

Answer 1

Hi The Black Room.
Here's the "skinny" in high sample rates,et al...:
1.Anyone CAN tell the difference between low and high sample rates.that is not difficult at all.The catch is that if you have source material that does NOT have frequencies above 22kHz (the limit of 44.1kHz sample rate recording) then you will absolutely not hear any difference at a higher sample rate.Why? Because there is no more information there,it is identical.
2.You have to be VERY careful when attempting to do listening tests.The first consideration to look at,is your MONITORING equipment.If you have equipment that is NOT capable of reproducing high frequencies,and I mean frequencies above 20kHz,there is NO POINT in playing back anything above 20kHz,because the reproduction equipment will NOT play it back.This includes mixers,amplifiers,speakers,monitor routing boxes,et al.
So,my friend,if you REALLY want to listen to differences in sample rates,you will have to make some effort in doing one of two things:
1.Go to a professional studio that has equipment capable of reproducing high frequencies.
OR
2.Purchase some test equipment such as a signal frequency generator that does output frequencies ABOVE 22kHz,plus an oscilloscope that can also "see" frequencies above 22kHz.also,you will need a sound source that is KNOWN to contain more than 22kHz of info.Your Logic Pro internal oscillator will not be good enough,and forget CDs.You will need to make a fresh recording of an acoustic instrument such as piano,violin,or the like.to do this,you will NEED a microphone capable of passing through it's circuitry Freqs. above 22kHz. (Neumanns can) and also a mic preamplifier capable of passing thru above 22kHz as well.Neve preamps can do this.
Electric guitars is a no-no,as they rarely go much above 15kHz.Acoustic guitar,maybe...the upper harmonics on an acoustic "might" show up,if they are loud enough.
Cheers