By Tug·July 14, 2026·6 min read

What Sample Rate Should You Record At?

For almost everything, record at 44.1kHz or 48kHz. Those two cover music, podcasts, video and most of what anyone actually does, and the difference between them rarely matters. 96kHz exists for specific reasons, but higher is not automatically better and it costs you in file size. Here is the plain version of what sample rate is and how to choose.

Pick 44.1 or 48 and stop worrying

Pick 44.1kHz or 48kHz and stop worrying. 44.1kHz is the classic music and CD rate. 48kHz is the standard for video and a lot of pro and mobile gear. Either is more than enough for music, voice and podcasts.

Reach for 96kHz only if you have a specific reason, like heavy pitch or time processing, or a client who asks for it. For normal recording it mostly just doubles your file size for no audible gain.

What sample rate actually is

Sample rate is how many times per second the audio is measured. 44.1kHz means the sound is captured 44,100 times a second, 48kHz means 48,000 times. The higher the rate, the higher the frequencies it can capture, up to about half the sample rate.

Since human hearing tops out around 20kHz, a 44.1 or 48kHz recording already captures the whole audible range with room to spare. That is why those rates became the standards, not an accident.

Which to use, and when

Use 44.1kHz for music you are releasing as audio, since it is the long-standing music standard. Use 48kHz if your work involves video, or if your interface or gear runs at 48, which many do, including a lot of iOS hardware. For a podcast, either is fine.

The one rule that matters more than the number: match your source and your project. If your interface or instrument runs at 48kHz, record at 48kHz so nothing has to resample on the way in, and keep the whole project on one rate.

Why higher is not always better

96kHz and above capture frequencies above human hearing and give some extra room for aggressive processing, which is why some engineers use them. But they also double or quadruple your file sizes, use more of the phone's processing, and for most recording the audible benefit is small to none.

Getting the mic placement, the input level and the room right will improve your recording far more than raising the sample rate ever will. Sample rate is near the bottom of the list of things that affect how good a recording sounds.

Where Reel fits

Reel records up to 96kHz if you want the headroom, and it matches the rate of a connected interface or instrument automatically, so you are recording at the source's own rate without thinking about it. For most people, leaving it at the standard rate and focusing on the performance is exactly right.

See how Reel works

A quick look at recording into Reel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best sample rate for recording music?

44.1kHz or 48kHz. 44.1kHz is the classic music and CD rate, and 48kHz is standard for video and much modern gear. Both capture the full range of human hearing, so either is an excellent choice for music.

Is 96kHz better than 48kHz?

Not for most recording. 96kHz captures frequencies above human hearing and gives extra room for heavy processing, but it also doubles file sizes and uses more processing for little or no audible gain. Use it only if you have a specific reason.

What sample rate should I record a podcast at?

44.1kHz or 48kHz is perfect for a podcast. Match whatever your interface or gear runs at, keep the whole project on one rate, and spend your attention on mic technique and levels instead.

Does sample rate affect sound quality?

Much less than people think, above 44.1kHz. Both 44.1 and 48kHz already capture the full audible range. Mic choice, placement, input level and the room affect your recording far more than the sample rate does.