Changing the sampling rate for a project?

[Cobus Prinsloo]

Hi, I've been trying to change the sampling rate for one of my projects from 44 kHz to 48 kHz, because I want to copy wav files from another project file. Now, I cannot copy those wav files because Sonar won't allow files with different sampling rates to get copied between projects. Is it possible to change an existing project's sampling rate?

I tried changing it in Preferences (attached) but it looks like the project reverts back to its original sample rate

Advice please!

 

Edited Monday at 09:22 AM by Cobus Prinsloo

[Promidi]

https://legacy.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=AudioPerformance.05.html

[Cobus Prinsloo]

Thank you for the link.

I was hoping it would be possible to just change a project setting within an existing project that is still being worked on.

[Cobus Prinsloo]

Is it better to work with a sampling rate that matches one's audio interface, (which in my case is a Scarlett 4i4 at 48 kHz), or does it not matter?

[tecknot]

Hi Cobus,

It absolutely matters!  If the sample rates do not match you will get artifacts all over the place.

Kind regards,

tecknot

Edited Monday at 12:01 PM by tecknot

[Sock Monkey]

Here’s how to change the project sample rate of 44.1 to 48. 

Save as and re name “Project 48” 
Note- Midi is not involved. But unfreeze any frozen synths. 
Export all audio as 48/32 wave.make sure export is set to start at zero. 

Make sure automation is in a lane. 
Now delete all the audio data in the tracks Including any archives or hidden audio. 
Now you can change the sample rate to 48. 
Check in the transport that it indeed was changed. 
If it doesn’t change then there is audio hidden somewhere. 
Now drag the audio stems back to their original tracks. Done. 

I did this for whole bunch of older projects as it bugs me now when the sample rate changes with a loud click.  
Then I got screwed over the other day because I had to do the clean install of Sonar and I forgot to change the default settings for sample rate. Why would 44.1 be a default?  Most other daw s I use automatically grab my interface setting of 48 

 

Edited Monday at 03:39 PM by Sock Monkey

[Cobus Prinsloo]

20 hours ago, tecknot said:

If the sample rates do not match you will get artifacts all over the place.

Thanks - that makes a lot of sense! 🙂 (blush)

[Sock Monkey]

On 1/20/2025 at 4:01 AM, tecknot said:

Hi Cobus,

It absolutely matters!  If the sample rates do not match you will get artifacts all over the place.

Kind regards,

tecknot

This is actually not possible in Sonar.. it automatically converts any imported audio to the sample rate of the project. It will maintain the bit depth however. 
A 44.1 /16 wave file becomes 48/16 if your project shows 48 in the transport. 
And MP3 or MP4 will also become 48 Wave and maintain what ever bit depth. 

New recordings will be at the project sample rate as well as the bit depth rate of your audio interface which is normally 24 and usually can’t be changed. 

This is not a limitation of your Daw but the audio interface hardware. I now have a Zoom interface that allows 16-24 and 32 bit. 
 

Interesting is that Cakewalk Next uses real time rendering and doesn’t convert different sample rates. You are warned that if you mix sample rates in a project you will be using CPU resources.
Doubt anyone will realize this and be dropping zillions of different loops and wonder why they are experiencing drop outs. 
I found this out when I noticed that the stem separation feature returned 44.1 /16 Audio from a 48/24 project. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Sock Monkey