What is bit rate and sample rate in mastering?
Written by B.Russell BSc Hons
Read time: 3 Mins
Last updated: April 04, 2026
What is Sample Rate in music?
Think of sample rate like resolution; The higher the sample rate, the more resolution the audio has.
​
Low sample rates can affect the quality of the sound.
High sample rates provide greater quality but may might not be supported by your chosen distribution method.
Sample rates for different distribution methods:
44.1kHz - CD and Standard Streaming.
48kHz - High Fidelity Streaming/Premium Services.
96kHz - Film, TV, Gaming, Audiophiles.
What is Bit Rate in music?
Bits are represented as Kbps (or kilobits per second) and it relates to how much data is transferred per second. Like with sample rate, the higher the bit rate the better the quality of the audio.
Bit Rate and dynamic range
The more bits, the larger the dynamic range.
This is why Film, TV, and Gaming industries require high sample rates and bit rates to ensure they can achieve as close to true sound as possible.
Bit Rate at export
If all elements of your track were recorded at 24Bit, selecting 32Bit at export makes no difference to your audio.
You should export your mix or stems in the format they were recorded in.
Written by B.Russell,
BSc Hons Music Production, Music Composition, and Songwriting.​​
_edited.jpg)
The Learn with Release series
