Audacity Forum

audacity by default will export (to wav) my project using 44.1 samplerate, although both source audiotracks are of 48hz samplerate.

first time i exported my project i switched to 48hz in preferences, it worked.
the next day when i exported the same project second time, it again used 44.1, although in preferences window 48 was selected.
so i had to switch to 44.1 and then back to 48 in preferences for the setting to work.

i use 29.03.2010 windows build.
two 32 bit float 48hz files as a source, and i export to the same configuration (i glue movie translation with original track).

Audacity has a bit of a quirky way of dealing with sample rates. Usually it sets the sample rate to the most useful setting for the user, but sometimes it can get caught out.

Here's how the scheme works:

All Audacity Projects have a "Project Rate". This is the sample rate for the Audacity Project and is the sample rate that will be used when exporting files.
The Project Rate is shown in the lower left corner of the main Audacity screen and may be changed manually by the user at any time.
The Project Rate determines the sample rate of newly created tracks and the sample rate of exported files. It has no effect on the sample rate of imported files.

There is a "default" setting in Preferences:
Edit menu > Preferences > Quality.
This sets the Project Rate for new Projects, but note that the Project Rate may be changed.

If you record, or generate sounds into a new Audacity project, the default sample rate will be used.

THE QUIRKY BIT:
If you import an audio file into an empty Audacity Project, the sample rate of this imported file will overrule the default setting and the Project Rate will change to match the sample rate of the imported file.
Subsequent imported files do not change the Project Rate.

To be certain what the sample rate of exported files will be, check the Project Rate in the lower left corner of the main Audacity window.