#203: What Actually Happens When You Choose a Sample Rate? (feat. Ian Stewart)

Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers and Artists | Inside The Mix

Confused about which audio sample rate to choose for your music? Whether you're recording your first track or mastering for Dolby Atmos, knowing the difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz is more than technical—it’s essential to how your music sounds and where it ends up.

In this episode of Inside the Mix, mastering engineer and Berklee professor Ian Stewart returns to demystify one of the most misunderstood elements in music production: digital audio sample rates.

We answer common questions like:

• What is a sample rate in audio production?
• Should I use 44.1kHz or 48kHz when mixing?
• Does a higher sample rate improve sound quality?
• What sample rate should I use for streaming or mastering?

Ian explains the Nyquist-Shannon theorem, how aliasing impacts your mix, and why 48kHz is the new practical standard, from YouTube to Bluetooth devices to Dolby Atmos. Plus, we discuss how higher sample rates give your plugins more headroom for harmonic generation and cleaner processing.

Don’t miss this one if you’re serious about choosing the best sample rate for your music. And stay tuned, next episode we dive into dither.

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1. #203: What Actually Happens When You Choose a Sample Rate? (feat. Ian Stewart) (00:00:00)

2. Does Sample Rate Matter in Music Production? (00:00:42)

3. What Is Audio Sample Rate and How Does It Work? (00:04:17)

4. Understanding the Nyquist Theorem and 44.1kHz Standard (00:11:43)

5. Why 48kHz Is the Best Sample Rate for Today (00:20:28)

6. Aliasing and Imaging in Audio: What You Need to Know (00:27:37)

7. Best Sample Rates for Mixing, Mastering and Delivery (00:35:50)