48kHz
Also written: 48 kilohertz
48 kilohertz, a standard audio sample rate capturing 48,000 sound samples per second.
48kHz refers to 48,000 samples per second. This is a common rate for digital audio, meaning sound is measured and recorded that many times every second.
Higher sample rates generally capture more detail in the sound. For example, music and professional audio often use 48kHz or even higher rates to ensure high fidelity.
48 kilohertz (kHz) is a standard sample rate for digital audio, representing 48,000 discrete measurements of an audio signal taken per second. This rate is widely adopted in professional audio production, digital broadcasting, and video production due to its balance between fidelity and data size.
Compared to lower rates like 44.1kHz (CD quality), 48kHz offers slightly better performance for certain applications, particularly in video synchronization and professional audio workflows. The choice of sample rate impacts the Nyquist frequency, which is half the sample rate, determining the highest frequency that can be accurately represented.
This term is appearing because AI models are increasingly being used to generate and manipulate audio. Specifically, Google's Lyria 3 Clip model uses 48kHz as a standard sample rate for creating music clips, highlighting the growing intersection of AI and high-fidelity audio production.
- Lyria 3 ClipGoogle · Gemini Models ·
- Google Gemini
- Google Gemini's Lyria 3 Clip model uses 48kHz as a standard sample rate for generating music clips, indicating a focus on high-quality audio output from AI.
- 44.1kHz
- This is another common audio sample rate, famously used for Compact Dis
- Bit depth
- This refers to the number of bits used to represent each audio sample
The 48kHz sample rate became a standard in digital audio, particularly for digital audio tape (DAT) and later for digital video and professional audio applications, offering a good balance of fidelity and manageable file sizes. Source ↗
You can explore audio settings in many media players or digital audio workstations. Look for options to set the sample rate and experiment with different values, though 48kHz is often a default for video-related audio.
The Playbook: reusable how-tos, prompts, configs and tips pulled out of the news.
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- TemplateReusable workflow templates for healthcare teamsTeams can create and share templates for common workflows like documentation or prior authorizations. · 15 min
- TemplateTemplate for building an AI tool tailored to your workA structured approach to defining and building a custom AI tool for specific business needs. · 15 min
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Questions people ask
- Is 48kHz good audio quality?
- Yes, 48kHz is considered a high-quality standard for digital audio, commonly used in professional settings and video production.
- What is the difference between 48kHz and 44.1kHz?
- 48kHz captures 48,000 samples per second, while 44.1kHz captures 44,100 samples per second. 48kHz is often preferred for video and professional audio.
First seen on Subvolts Sep 12, 2026. Updated Oct 19, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.