Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

180,768 users have contributed to 42,140 threads and 254,362 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 3 new thread(s), 15 new post(s) and 57 new user(s).

  • Switching Sample Rates in Host

    Question,

    I've been writing a movie with a 44.1 sample rate.  Have about 47 cues done.   I am running cubase 8 and have three Vienna Ensemble (v 4) running.  One internal and two external.  Each of these have multiple Vienna Projects inside it loaded with mostly Kontakt Instruments and One with A bunch of Vienna Instruments.

    I was just asked to switch the sample rate of my projects to 48.   I'm reluctant to do that as I'm worried that this will mess up my templates and vienna projects/multis.

    What process would y'all recommend to make my switch as easy as possible.

     Do I need to reload the Metaframes EVERY time I switch back and forth between projects?  That is, I need to switch 47 cues around.  Will I need to unload and reload all vienna instances every time?

    For example:  

    Currently I have Internal Vienna with a Metaframe loaded that has 5 active instances each with about 10 projects in it - mostly Spitfire, Play and Vienna.   The two externals are loaded roughly the same way.   


  • You shouldn't have a problem switching your DAW from 44.1 to 48k, but just so you know, you do not need to switch sample rates while writing. You can instead just convert the audio mix from 44.1 to 48k when you are done. I believe all VSL instruments were recorded at 44.1 anyway, so there is no sonic benefit to switching to 48k unless you are recording live instruments or using samples recorded at 48k (most are not). If the only reason to switch to 48k is compatibility with the editors, I would keep working as you have been in 44.1 and when you bounce down either bounce directly to 48k or take your 44.1 mix and convert it to 48k after (the editor should have been able to do this on his end btw). In fact I use to work like this in film school due to my computer being underpowered and wanting to save CPU. As long as your source is not 48k, there is little benefit to running a 48k session.


  • Thanks,

    That makes sense.   I will be recording a session with live guys at 48 so I will have to convert some of the stuff that isn't being recorded (pads, synths) from 44.1 to 48.   Will that be problematic?

    How much of an audio fidelity hit are we speaking about by working in 44.1 vs 44.8?


  • It shouldn't be problematic to convert any stems from 44.1 to 48k. As for quality, I guess thats subjective but I really cannot hear a difference between 44.1 and 48k personally, though I have never done a live recording in 48k and then in 44.1 and compared them. Bit rate is WAY more important than sample rate, so make sure you are recording at least in 24-bit (32-float if your DAW can do it). 

    I choose my sample rates based on what the final output will be. If I'm writing for CD, then I record in 44.1. If I'm writing for film, I record in 48k. This is just so I dont have to convert it later. Seeing as how you have already started in 44.1, you can either finish in 44.1 and convert the files when you are done (that way you are assured everything you have done so far will be correct) or you can switch to 48k and go from there. In theory you should be able to switch your DAW from 44.1 to 48k and everything should play back correctly.

    So you have a choice of staying with 44.1 and converting all audio to 48k before you record (I would for sure record live players in your final delivery sample rate), going back and switching your 44.1 projects to 48k and rebounce, or having a mix of both 44.1 and 48k cues. I personally, knowing that you will be recording live musicians, would switch all cues to 48k. I would bounce out an audio file for all cues have finished, convert the project to 48k, import the 44.1 audio bounce you did previously (making sure its converted to 48k when importing) and A/B the two and see if anything changed or sounds different. Once its ok save the 48k version and keep working. Again, in theory switching sample rate mid project (as long as all recorded audio is converted) your project should sound and function the same. In fact I just did a test switching my DAW from 44.1 to 48k with VE pro connected and it switched just fine. The only think you have to double check is audio files in your project, as they may or may not be converted when you change sample rates depending on the preferences you have selected in your DAW.

    Hope that helps.