I basically think double sample rates are usually a best practice (88.2 or 96).
I usually use double rates unless I'm recording a full band in a bar.
Then I often just go with single rates because the bounce speed is faster and I'm probably not going to add TH2 or that kind of processing on top.
 
I'm curious about your negative test. How do you record the same passage at the same time at two different sample rates to test with TH2? The only way I can think of is to use midi time clock sync between the devices. And still you'd have differences between the devices (at least in my case where I'd use different devices to record the split signal).
 
I also think that for over-sampling, you just double the 44.1 samples. To do a straight double you'd go to 88.2 where each sample was the same as it's pair?
 
When you record at 88.2 each sample is not the same as it's pair, so the straight recording should be better to begin with.
 
Then the output from TH2 will also be better.
 
Your negative test was for Guitar Rig only, if I understand you. In this case we're talking about TH2. Seems like a lot of work to get what will obviously be better IMHO.
 
Regarding 192, in my experience it isn't worth the increased time in the bounces.
 
An additional value to the double rates is you push the anti-aliasing filtering out of the audible range by a mile. When using single sample rates, I think it's better to pick 48 over 44.1 because you have more inaudible range for the filter. At the double rates, I can never tell the diff between 88.2 and 96.

gswitz
I'm curious about your negative test. How do you record the same passage at the same time at two different sample rates to test with TH2? The only way I can think of is to use midi time clock sync between the devices. And still you'd have differences between the devices (at least in my case where I'd use different devices to record the split signal).

 
I couldn't do a proper test with TH2. Subjectively, it seemed to sound better at 96kHz but which is what led me down this path. So, I did the test with Guitar Rig because it was obvious that by pushing the HI button it sounded better and was equivalent to running it double the sample rate. This allowed me to use the same piece of original audio and render it two ways - one with GR in HI mode, the other without.
 

I also think that for over-sampling, you just double the 44.1 samples. To do a straight double you'd go to 88.2 where each sample was the same as it's pair?
 
When you record at 88.2 each sample is not the same as it's pair, so the straight recording should be better to begin with.

 
I really couldn't hear an obvious difference in the straight signal at higher sample rates, only when processing with an amp sim.
 

Your negative test was for Guitar Rig only, if I understand you. In this case we're talking about TH2.

 
Yes, the side trip into GR was to create quantifiable results as opposed to "Hmm, seems TH2 sounds better at higher sample rates."
 

An additional value to the double rates is you push the anti-aliasing filtering out of the audible range by a mile. When using single sample rates, I think it's better to pick 48 over 44.1 because you have more inaudible range for the filter. At the double rates, I can never tell the diff between 88.2 and 96.

 
I can't tell a difference between 88.2 and 96 either. 48 certainly offers a theoretical advantage over 44.1, but I don't know if people could pick the difference reliably in a double-blind test. 
 
FYI engineers at both IK and Native Instruments confirmed that there are valid technical reasons why running amp sims at higher sample rates sounds better.
 

Ok... perhaps this is a dumb question but how exactly are you doing this? Just changing the samplerate fro the entire project? If so how would I go about processing TH2 at 96khz one my guitar tracks on my current project which is set to 48khz? Some kind of offline render option? Wouldn't that screw up the speed of the track?
 
Sorry... seriously confuzzled on this.
 
On a related note... I have two cloned guitar scratch tracks with TH2 on them that are using a cloned (Copied) instance of the same TH2 settings and as far as I can tell all the same channel/PC settings yet one of the tracks is a little scratchy/clippy. It's not a big deal because they are going to be retracked anyway but I'm wondering what the heck is doing that. I probably am overlooking something in my channel settings though so not really worth your guy's time to help troubleshoot. Just popped into my head.
 
 

Beepster
Ok... perhaps this is a dumb question but how exactly are you doing this? Just changing the samplerate fro the entire project? If so how would I go about processing TH2 at 96khz one my guitar tracks on my current project which is set to 48khz? Some kind of offline render option? Wouldn't that screw up the speed of the track?

When it comes to posting dumb questions, you need to work a lot harder to reach a truly exemplary level of dumbness. Your question makes total sense.
 
With TH2, you would need to run the project at 96 kHz. I suppose you could record at 44.1 or 48, export the dry track as a Broadcast WAV so it's time-stamped, bring it into a separate project running at 88.2 or 96k, get your TH2 sound, render it, then bring the processed signal back into the 44.1 or 48 kHz project (Sonar will automatically convert the signal to your current project's sample rate). Sounds like a lot of effort, and I guess to get the TH2 sound in context you'd also need to export a premix and bring that into the separate high-sample-rate project. 
 
But also note that one advantage of running a project at 96kHz is lower latency if your computer can handle it. I can use 1ms sample buffers with the V-Studio, so the total roundtrip latency including all hardware and the USB delay is about 8ms.

Thanks, Craig. Funny thing is I used to ALWAYS run at 96khz then started reading all the material about how it's not really going to make much of a difference for most practical purposes so I figured I would drop it down to 48 to save disk space/resources... BUT being as how guitar is the central theme of my music and I lurvs me some TH2 I should probably check this out. Especially considering I really pour on the sauce so I'm assuming that the higher the gain/distortion the more I'd need the benefits of this.
 
It's a shame the Overloud guys overlooked this. Maybe they'll update the program at some point with an oversample feature.
 
As to the lower latency on higher samplerates... I was not aware of that. I figured the latency would go UP with the higher speeds. Isn't it making the computer/interface work harder?
 
Damned sciency stuff. :-p

Beepster
Thanks, Craig. Funny thing is I used to ALWAYS run at 96khz then started reading all the material about how it's not really going to make much of a difference for most practical purposes so I figured I would drop it down to 48 to save disk space/resources...

 
The point of this 96kHZ isn't about extended frequency response but improved accuracy with the distortion algorithms. Normally I wouldn't see any significant benefit to running at 96 but this is an exception.
 

It's a shame the Overloud guys overlooked this. Maybe they'll update the program at some point with an oversample feature.

 
I'm going to ask if they could consider this for a future version.
 

As to the lower latency on higher samplerates... I was not aware of that. I figured the latency would go UP with the higher speeds. Isn't it making the computer/interface work harder?

 
That's why I said "if your computer can handle it." To simplify, the latency is lower because audio is being pushed through the system faster.
 

You have the ear of Overloud? Sweet. I really can't think of anything I'd want them to change (aside from this now that I know about it) but that's good to know. Great program.
 
And my system certainly can handle it (I hope... I built it to be a powerhouse) so I'll just go back to 96.
 
Cheers.

Beepster
You have the ear of Overloud?

Anyone can ask for something 

A delay like they have for their keyboard fx is something I'd like included as well. Intelligent harmonizers as well please.

You'll have to ask them yourself, I have my own selfish agenda