howto? project setting at 24 bit 48000, but hardware output at 16 bit 44100?

i've asked this once before but i don't think i worded it properly. i want to have a project running at 24 bit (or 32 float) 48000 hz, but i also want to use spdif i/o to my hardware sampler, which is 16 bit 44100 hz. how can i run a higher bit/sampling rate project while still being able to work with the sampler, whose resolution is lower than that of the intended project? ideally, this would mean being able to specify the bit/sampling rate of individual hardware outputs, so i could say that the spdif out only sends 16 bit 44100 hz. any help would be greatly appreciated

Not possible. Just run at 44.1kHz. Bitdepth doesn't matter (REAPER processes 64bit internally always).

really? i know it all goes down to 44100 in the end anyway... i've been running at 44100 for a while now and i feel like everything sounds great. i guess that's what i should be going by anyway

Big question is why are you running at 48k? The only good reason to run 48k is if you are doing video (video standard is 16bit/48k) or running hardware locked at 48k like ADATs or SBLive cards. Conversions from 48>44.1 are just asking for problems. Lock it down on 24/44.1k and forgetaboutit....

well, surprisingly, it is possible. I've learned never to say never where reaper is concerned. You can actually unlink the sample rate which appears at the hardware outputs from that used by the project. I use this all the time to work on projects at 48k that my laptop can't cope with. So, do the following: In perferences->audio->device type in 44100 as your hardware rate In preferences->audio->device uncheck 'allow project to over-ride sample rate' In Project settings (spanner icon on main page) select 48000 as your sample rate. You'll then notice little green 'i!' icons appear on all of your audio files, meaning that they've been resampled at output to match your hardware hardware rate. Personally, what the others have said is ture. You should probably stick to 44100 and run that across the board if 48k is your max rate and all your external gear runs at 44. The curse of sample rate conversion, however good, will without doubt take away any advantage of a slightly higher rate. I'd even go so far to say that i'd prefer the sound of projects without sample rate conversion anywhere near them, but that's just my view.

just record 24bit and you're save.