I am contemplating buying a digital DJ mixer (Allen & Heath Xone:DB2) which includes a 16-channel USB audio interface. The digital architecture specs are as follows:
Analogue/Digital conversion 24 bit
Analogue/Digital Line-up +12dBu = 0dBFS
DSP processing 24 bit I/O + 48 bit EQ
DSP Mix Bus 56 bit Fixed Point
DSP core sampling frequency 48kHz
USB soundcard sampling frequency 48kHz
SPDIF input sampling frequency 32kHz to 192kHz
SPDIF output sampling frequency 48kHz
It seems the USB soundcard only supports 48kHz audio. I mean it is not a problem in the sense that the software I use (Native Instruments Traktor Pro 2) can provide that. But all my music is 16-bit/44.1kHz. Will the resampling of my audio files perceptually worsen the sound quality?
This mixer (Xone:DB2) has a big brother called Xone:DB4 which includes an audio interface that supports all sampling frequencies from 44.1kHz to 96kHz. But the top model Xone:DB4 costs EUR 500 more. I don't need the extra features in the top model. Except, possibly, the more versatile audio interface. Again, the question is if the resampling will be an issue.
It should not be a problem. The upsampling shoud be transparent.
I occasionally convert from CD (44.1kHz) to DVD (48kHz), or the other way around, and I've never noticed any differtence in the sound.
In fact, many (most?) soundcards (drivers) convert everything to 48kHz by default. When sounds are mixed digitally, all of the sounds need to have the same sample rate so that the samples can be combined. And the normal-default situation is for the computer to mix sounds from different sources/applications.
In the past there have been sound cards that did a poor job of upsampling 44.1 to 48 kHz, but hopefully that is all behind us now.
thanks to both of you.
prior to posting this, i read a few times on the forum something to the effect that resampling shouldn't have any adverse effects if it's done right. but the posts i read were a little too technical for me to fully appreciate which i why i made this thread with my concrete question at hand. thanks again.