If I have a 44100 Hz (or 48000 Hz) project and import samples of both 44100 Hz and 48000 Hz into it - is Sonar doing some kind of automatic downgrading/upgrading of the samples so they are all in the same (presume the project setting) format?
 
Similarly with importing 24 bit and 16 bit WAV samples into the same project - how does Sonar handle that?
 
Can it happen that with samples at different formats, some may be played back slower (or faster) than their original?
 
 

The clips will be in whatever sample rate they are imported as, and can be a mixture of different rates.
 
If you import a 44.1 k clip and later export it with a sample rate of 48 k on output, it will not make it sound any better.
 
Bob Bone

robert_e_bone
The clips will be in whatever sample rate they are imported as, and can be a mixture of different rates.
 
 
Bob Bone

But you don't mean SONAR doesn't convert them to follow the project, do you (that was the OP's question)? I've thought that would make it impossible to play them back simultaneously?? Track one with 44,1 kHz and track 2 48 kHz - does it really go like that?

ULTRABRA
If I have a 44100 Hz (or 48000 Hz) project and import samples of both 44100 Hz and 48000 Hz into it - is Sonar doing some kind of automatic downgrading/upgrading of the samples so they are all in the same (presume the project setting) format?
 
Similarly with importing 24 bit and 16 bit WAV samples into the same project - how does Sonar handle that?
 
Can it happen that with samples at different formats, some may be played back slower (or faster) than their original?

 
SONAR is able to do sample rate and bit depth conversion on the fly. You declare a project sample rate and word length, and that's what SONAR enforces regardless of whether the data was imported, recorded, frozen, bounced or generated by a synth or sample player. For example, if you use a Kontakt library with 48 KHz samples in a 44.1 KHz project, SONAR quietly converts them for you.
 
It's a greatly under-appreciated feature that keeps things simple because under most circumstances we're entirely relieved from having to think about such things. Your only responsibility is making sure your audio interface is at the correct sample rate, as that's the only time the scheme goes awry: when the interface and project sampling frequencies don't match.
 

yes, and when they do, bit, sonar tells you you have no audio device or something. you have to close sonar, reset the audio device, then reopen sonar. always wondered why sonar doesn't just reset the audio device like vegas does...

Yes - I just meant how the clips are stored, which is in their original format.
 
Sorry for any confusion, 
 
Bob Bone

One-the-fly sample-rate conversion of output from sample-based soft synths is one thing, but I understood the OP to be talking about importing audio samples/files into tracks. In that case, SONAR will write a new file with the project's sample rate, and will also convert the bit depth as necessary based on the setting in the Import dialog or the setting in Preferences > File Audio Data if the file is dragged in directly.
 
EDIT: Bit depths can be mixed in a project, but not sample rates.
 
 

Wow - I am having a giant senior moment day - YES it is the bit-depth that remains the same, not the sample rate.  The sample rate IS converted on import, to the project's sample rate, and the bit-depth does not change.
 
DOH!
 
Bob Bone

dlion16
yes, and when they do, bit, sonar tells you you have no audio device or something. you have to close sonar, reset the audio device, then reopen sonar. always wondered why sonar doesn't just reset the audio device like vegas does...

That's something different. The OP is asking about mixed sample rates within a project, which isn't possible. You simply cannot mix two or more data streams unless they're at the same rate.
 
I think what you're referring to is changing the interface settings, which SONAR normally does automatically when you open a project, and has nothing to do with sample rate conversion. Changing the sample rate of a project is a much bigger deal than on-the-fly SRC when you import a file. Interesting that Vegas does it more smoothly, though.

Just another question, Doesn't Sonar convert all audio into 32 or 64 bit wave? 
I understood that everything is recorded in 44.1 32 bit in my case. 
If I import a Mp3 file, as example, it will become a 44.1 32 bit wave.