Digital Audio Basics for Music Producers

A Soft Synced Companion Guide

Soft Synced Environment → Foundation Track → The Basics Course → Lesson 2
(This is a Companion Guide to Lesson 2 of the Soft Synced app.)

Introduction

Sound in the real world is vibration. Digital audio is how we capture, measure, and store that vibration so it can be shaped in a DAW. This guide explains the journey from waves to numbers, the settings that matter (sample rate, bit depth, file type), and how they affect your everyday workflow.

The goal isn’t to drown you in specs but to show you enough of the system so you can make smart choices and stay focused on creating.

From Waves to Data

Microphones turn air movement into an electrical signal. Your audio interface and DAW then “sample” that signal, taking thousands of tiny snapshots every second and recording how strong the wave is at each moment.

Two settings control how this works:

  • Sample rate: how many snapshots per second.

  • Bit depth: how much detail each snapshot can hold.

Think of sample rate like frames per second in video, higher numbers capture smoother motion. Bit depth is like color depth in a photo, more shades give smoother detail between bright and dark.

Sample Rate: Time Resolution

  • 44.1 kHz: 44,100 snapshots each second.

  • 48 kHz: standard for most music and video, a safe default.

  • 96 kHz: higher resolution but heavier on CPU and file size.

Why it matters: With a higher sample rate, your DAW can capture very high frequencies and sometimes process effects more cleanly. But it also creates larger files and pushes your computer harder.

Simple defaults:

  • Use 48 kHz for most projects.

  • Use 44.1 kHz if that’s what your system or collaborators use.

  • Save 96 kHz for special cases where you know it helps.

Producer takeaway: Pick the setting that keeps your session smooth. The best sample rate is the one that lets you keep producing without dropouts or crashes.

Nyquist and Aliasing (No Math Required)

Imagine filming a spinning wheel with too few frames per second. The blades look like they’re spinning the wrong way. In audio, the same thing happens if the sample rate is too low — frequencies “fold back” and show up as the wrong tones. That’s aliasing.

Modern DAWs filter most of this out, but you might still hear aliasing when you use cheap resampling, extreme pitch-shifts, or certain synths. It shows up as harsh, “glassy” tones that don’t belong.

Producer takeaway: You don’t need to calculate Nyquist. Just know that your DAW’s default sample rates are safe, and if you hear weird digital tones when stretching audio, aliasing is probably the cause.

File Formats That Matter

There are dozens of audio formats, but only a few you’ll actually use:

  • WAV / AIFF: Full-quality, uncompressed. Use these for recording, mixing, stems, and final masters.

  • MP3 / AAC: Compressed, smaller size. Use for quick sharing, not for making mix decisions.

  • FLAC: Full quality but smaller file size. Good for archiving or delivery if supported.

Producer takeaway: Work and deliver in WAV, share drafts in MP3. Don’t overthink it.

Quick Studio Practice

Try this once in your DAW so it sticks:

  1. Open project settings and set Sample Rate = 48 kHz and Bit Depth = 24-bit.

  2. Save this as your default template.

  3. Record a short loop and export it twice: once as WAV 24-bit, once as MP3 320 kbps.

  4. Compare the file sizes and listen on headphones. Notice how the WAV keeps detail, while the MP3 is smaller and slightly different.

Takeaway: Settings aren’t abstract. They shape how smooth your session feels and how your mix travels into the real world.

Producer FAQs

  • Higher sample rates like 96 kHz capture more snapshots per second, which can technically represent very high frequencies and sometimes improve how certain effects process sound. But in practice, the difference is subtle to the point of being inaudible for most listeners. What you gain in “resolution” is often outweighed by the extra strain on your computer and the much larger file sizes. That’s why most professional producers stick to 48 kHz as their default. It’s high enough to cover everything humans can hear, efficient on resources, and widely compatible with collaborators in music and video.

  • Inside your DAW, 32-bit float is useful because it gives massive headroom and prevents clipping when you stack up tracks and effects. But for recording and exporting, 24-bit audio already provides far more range than human ears can perceive. The difference isn’t something you’ll hear in the mix; it’s more about workflow safety. That’s why most interfaces and studios record at 24-bit and only use 32-bit float internally. If you see 32-bit as an export option, don’t stress — 24-bit is the professional standard and will serve you perfectly for both mixing and delivering files.

  • File size grows with both sample rate and bit depth. Recording at 96 kHz and 24-bit means storing twice as much information as 48 kHz at the same bit depth, and three times as much as 16-bit at the same sample rate. The jump adds up quickly across dozens of tracks. That’s why beginners are often shocked at how fast a hard drive fills up. The important point is: bigger isn’t always better. Use 48 kHz / 24-bit as your default so your sessions stay light enough to run smoothly, but still deliver the quality needed for professional production.

  • MP3 is a “lossy” format, meaning it shrinks audio by literally throwing data away. The encoder removes frequencies judged to be less noticeable, and reduces detail in parts of the sound where the ear is thought not to notice as much. This makes files small and portable, but it can dull transients, smear reverb tails, and thin out the stereo image. That’s why you should never mix or master from MP3s — they simply don’t contain all the information. Use WAV or AIFF while you produce and mix, then bounce MP3s only when you want something light to share quickly with friends or clients.

Quick Reference

Sample Rate (Time Resolution)

  • 44.1, 48, 96 kHz = how many snapshots per second.

  • More snapshots = smoother detail but heavier CPU and file size.

  • Default: 48 kHz for most projects

Bit Depth (Detail & Headroom)

  • 16 vs 24-bit = how much dynamic range each snapshot holds.

  • Higher bit depth = cleaner quiet sounds and more freedom with levels.

  • Default: 24-bit for recording and mixing.

File Formats (Practical Use)

  • WAV/AIFF = full-quality for production and delivery.

  • MP3/AAC = smaller files for sharing, not mixing.

  • FLAC = lossless archive format if supported.

Next Steps

You now know how audio is stored, what sample rate and bit depth mean, and which formats to use when. These aren’t just tech choices, they’re the foundation for a smoother, more creative workflow. To continue, head back into the Soft Synced app and move on to Lesson 2 to kick off DAW Interface Fundamentals. Here you’ll meet the track, the timeline, and the mixer, the three spaces where your audio actually lives and where production choices take shape.

The Guides are your reference. The app is your journey.