Best Free-software or no charge proprietary tool to downsample to 44.1 Options

[Morality124]

I have some audio files I've ripped that I want to down-sample to 44.1khz/16-bit format so they can burned to CDs. The audio files in questions are 24-bit (obv) and range from 96-192 kHz. I don't have any commercial proprietary audio software like Adobe Audition, but I do have the Free software programs Audacity and SoX at the moment, as well as EAC and ImgBurn. Would down-sampling using either of these programs be advisable, and if so, what is best settings and/or method(s) to do so? If not, what would be the recommended program and settings/methods? Thanks!

[AndyH-ha]

There are some varying opinions on what is the "best" result for both resampling and for bit depth reduction. For bit depth this has mainly to do with the dither used. Unless something really gross is done, however, (and maybe even then) it is rather unlikely you could hear the difference.


For sample rate you can see some visual representations a
http://src.infinitewave.ca/
Look at the sweep tone conversion using Adobe Audition with filters and say Ableton Live 7. The Audition result is more ideal. There are other interesting displays. As with bit depth reduction, being able to hear a difference does not seem to be an established fact.

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

There are some varying opinions on what is the "best" result for both resampling and for bit depth reduction. For bit depth this has mainly to do with the dither used. Unless something really gross is done, however, (and maybe even then) it is rather unlikely you could hear the difference.


For sample rate you can see some visual representations a
http://src.infinitewave.ca/
Look at the sweep tone conversion using Adobe Audition with filters and say Ableton Live 7. The Audition result is more ideal. There are other interesting displays. As with bit depth reduction, being able to hear a difference does not seem to be an established fact.

It's interesting to see how CEP/Audition which used to get no respect among pros and semi-pros always did a lot of things right, even when more "pro", prestigious, and expensive software like some old releases of Pro Tools didn't even do the basics right.

This post has been edited by Arnold B. Krueger: Apr 30 2012, 14:40