How to convert 24-bit 88200Hz to 16-bit 44100Hz

[treeant34]

Howdy:

Maybe I'm not using the right search terms, thought someone would have asked this by now...

How do I convert 24-bit 88200Hz to 16-bit 44100Hz?

Can't find it in the help file either (Google appears to be useless for this one too)?

Is this possible with audacity?

Cheers

[steve]

1) Import the track into Audacity ("File menu > Import > Audio", or just drag the file into a new empty Audacity window).
2) Set the Project Rate to 44100 (lower left corner of the main Audacity window).
3) "File menu > Export" and select "WAV (Microsoft) Signed 16 bit PCM" as the export format.

On exporting, if you are prompted to enter Metadata, that is optional (few programs can read Metadata in WAV files). Fill in the metadata form if you wish, or just click the OK button to continue with the export.

[treeant34]

Thanks Steve, appreciate your help...

Any thoughts on dithering/not dithering during a sample rate conversion from [email protected] to [email protected]?

Cheers

T

[steve]

When converting to a lower bit format (less bits per sample) there will be rounding to a near value. That is called "quantize error", and if you don't do anything about it the quantize error produces harmonic distortion. Applying dither prevents the harmonic distortion by randomizing the last one or 2 bits in special ways, but the downside is that the randomisation produces a small amount of noise (hiss). So you have a choice between a small amount of harmonic distortion, or a small amount of hiss. At normal listening levels either of these effects are barely noticeable. Personally I find the hiss less obtrusive than the harshness of harmonic distortion, so I prefer to use dither.

Sample rate conversion from 88 kHz to 44.1 kHz is less of an issue. Audacity uses a world class resampling library, so changing the sample rate is virtually perfect within the audio range.

[treeant34]

Thanks again for your time Steve, appreciate your help

T