CDs borrowed video gear
44.1 kHz was chosen so early digital recorders could store audio on video tape machines that sampled at 29.97 fps.
Format hack
Sample Rate Calculator — Nyquist & SNR insight
Current project
Target project
Implications
Nyquist:
Theoretical dynamic range:
Nyquist:
Theoretical dynamic range:
How to use this sample rate calculator
- Enter your current project’s sample rate and bit depth, then the target settings you’re considering.
- Compare Nyquist frequency (bandwidth) for each rate to see if the jump is meaningful for your sources.
- Check theoretical dynamic range to understand how bit depth choices affect headroom and noise floor.
- Use the percent change line to estimate storage/CPU impact when increasing sample rate.
- Decide faster—no files are converted or uploaded; this is pure math in your browser.
5 Fun Facts about Sample Rates
Human hearing headroom
48 kHz has a 24 kHz Nyquist—already past most adult hearing—which is why it’s the broadcast and film default.
Beyond 20 kHz
Filters get friendlier
Higher sample rates make anti-aliasing filters gentler; phase shift moves farther above the audible band.
Smoother filters
SNR math is simple
Theoretical dynamic range is ~6.02 dB per bit + 1.76 dB; 24-bit clocks in around 144 dB on paper.
Headroom formula
Dogs love high rates
96 kHz captures energy up to 48 kHz—far above humans, but right in the range of some bat and dog vocalizations.
Ultrasonic perks
About this sample rate calculator
This calculator is designed for engineers who need to decide between 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, or even 192 kHz without opening a spreadsheet. Enter a current project rate and a proposed target rate along with bit depths, and you’ll see the Nyquist frequency and the theoretical dynamic range for each. That helps you answer whether the extra bandwidth or headroom is worth the CPU, storage, and interface strain.
The tool stays entirely client-side—no uploads, no analysis of your sessions. It simply performs the underlying math that’s easy to forget in the middle of a session. Use the percent change line to understand how much more bandwidth you’re taking on when you switch. The dynamic range readouts are also handy for explaining why 16-bit delivery is often fine but 24-bit capture provides more safety for processing and summing.
Practical guidance is included below each column to describe what a given rate is typically used for. For example, 48 kHz is common for video and game audio, while 96 kHz can provide gentler anti-aliasing for heavy processing chains. Ultra-high rates like 192 kHz can be useful for DSP research or extreme sound design but are rarely required for consumer delivery.
Because this calculator does not convert files, you can safely audition ideas on the fly. Use it before setting up a session template, before committing to a portable recorder format, or when explaining trade-offs to clients who ask “Why not 192k?” You’ll keep your workflows lean while making informed decisions grounded in a quick glance at Nyquist and SNR.