Converting a 44.1KHz Music library to 48KHz
 

We just purchased a large Music Library that has 44.1Khz WAV files, is there a utility that can easily convert these to 48Khz WAV or AIFF files?

Why bother?

Otherwise use Compressor.

In terms of use in an NLE - most programs will do the conversion on import. So you just do it one at a time as you need them.

utility
 

Yes there is a utility you can use. Quicktime Pro.

Note: conversion is not going to upgrade the quality from 44.1 to 48 Khz, so the only advantage is a format that works best with your software of choice. Goldwave is great, its cheap and it will covert many formats but again, it won't upconvert anything I'm not sure any software that will. If someone knows of any please let me know, that would be a big deal.

Converting from recordings made at 44.1K to 48K will never improve quality or alter the file in any noticeable way but is needed to preserve the original pitch when working in a 48K session. A 44.1k file used in a 48K session will play at the wrong pitch (about 1 half tone out). I use Soundhack which is free (do a save as and change the sampling rate).

Actually converting to 48Khz is a good idea because it will play better with most cameras which work in 48Khz. It costs a lot less processing power to have footage in a timeline that's already 48Khz rather than waste it converting 44.1 to 48 on the fly. Also you'll likely hear random sampling errors during previews.

One easy way would be simply setup iTunes to encode to AIF stereo 48Khz 16-bit and then drop all the CDs into your computer. Or do it through compressor with an audio only preset.

Noah

Since it is a "large" batch of files, use Compressor for a batch conversion.

I never noticed a frequency shift but then I never had a reason to compare two files of the same material. I'll try it out at some point.