lame: 44.1 KHz or 48 KHz?

[Mole]

I read in the HA forums that they actually recommend to convert to 44.1 KHz if you want to use LAME because LAME is tuned at 44.1 KHz.

However, won't you lose some quality when downsampling from 48 KHz as well?

So we got a choice between the loss in quality downsampling, or loss in quality using LAME with 48 KHz vs 44.1 KHz.

Has anybody actually done some tests to show which is most preferrable?

Now, I know the folks at HA forums are very knowledgable when it comes to audio, but I've seen some replies regarding movie soundtrack related threads and I don't think you can compare a short 5 minute music tune with a 90 minute movie soundtrack. For instance 128 kbps can sound quite OK for a sountrack, especially if there's a lot of dialog. Most of those folks has never done a movie rip.

I am strictly talking about MP3 as format, so please don't reply by telling to use other format.

[r6d2]

Originally posted by Mole
So we got a choice between the loss in quality downsampling, or loss in quality using LAME with 48 KHz vs 44.1 KHz.

I'd go for keeping the source's value. But it depends more on where you want to play it. Some times the player won't give you a choice, so better abide by the specs of the output format.
Has anybody actually done some tests to show which is most preferrable?
I don't think there is a measurable way to answer this question. So the answers you may get, if any, will qualify as "opinions only".

P.S.: Mole, are you "Mole" as in "Mole VCD"? Any relation?

[Tuning]

IMHO,Preserving 48Khz is better.As far as movie audio is concerned we will be having very little occassions when there are high frequency components,where the difference can be best noticed.we got a choice between the loss in quality downsampling, or loss in quality using LAME with 48 KHz vs 44.1 KHz. Regarding movie sound,first option i.e Quality loss by using 48Khz will be less lossy than loss by downsampling.This will have diminished effect when we choose higher bitrates.One more thing is speed:if you are speed concerned then prserve 48khz as there is no need of downsampling.

[KpeX]

@ Mole

I doubt you will notice quality difference from either. Both are pretty minute, but I would agree with Tuning and r6d2 that you're better off keeping the original sampling rate; there is no chance of rounding errors. The loss introduced in encoding from AC3 to 128k MP3 will be much greater than either.

[KpeX]

p.s. I split r6d2 and mine's conversation on audio quality to a new thread, as we were getting off topic.

[Mole]

No, I'm not Mole VCD. I've seen the templates and matrices though.

I'll keep them at 48 KHz as before then.