Converting sample rate and bit depth, step by step

1. Import

Start from the highest quality file you have.

• Drop the source file and read its current sample rate and bit depth in the spec strip.
• Always convert from the original recording, never from an already converted copy.
• Drop a whole folder in Pro batch mode when a delivery needs the same target everywhere.

2. Settings

Pick the target the destination actually asked for.

• 48 kHz 24 bit is the film and television standard, use it unless told otherwise.
• 44.1 kHz is for music delivery and CD era specs, not for picture.
• Keep 24 bit for anything that will be mixed; 16 bit is a final delivery format.
• Avoid upsampling: going from 44.1 to 96 kHz adds file size and no detail.

Tip Convert once, at the end of the chain. Repeated conversions accumulate small artefacts.

3. Export and ZIP

One file downloads directly, a batch arrives as an archive.

• Name the output with the target rate, for example TAKE12_48k24b, so nothing is confused later.
• Export a single file and it downloads as one WAV, AIFF, FLAC or MP3.
• In batch mode every converted file is packaged into a single ZIP.
• Unzip into a folder named after the delivery spec and keep the originals separate.

4. Quality control

Confirm the conversion happened and nothing else changed.

• Open a converted file in the Audio Inspector and read the new rate and bit depth.
• Compare the duration with the source; a different duration means the file was played back at the wrong rate.
• Listen to a loud passage for clipping, especially after a bit depth reduction.
• Spot check one file per batch rather than trusting the whole archive blindly.