Evaluating analog reconstruction performance of transient digital audio workstation signals at high- and standard- resolution sample frequencies

Given that audio signals in many applications are neither predictable nor guaranteed to be repeated (and hence do not deliver an infinite history of data), they do not completely adhere to the ideal sampling theorems presented by Nyquist and Shannon. Digital-to-analogue (DAC) reconstruction theory is hence used to investigate how accurately digital audio workstation signals are actually reconstructed, and explores whether high-resolution sample frequencies (i.e. frequencies above 44.1 kHz) provide a performance advantage. Ideal reconstruction profiles are then evaluated against the actual reconstruction data observed from three pro-audio DACs and at multiple sample frequencies. The test signal is chosen to evaluate the performance of DACs when presented with transient data that approaches the Nyquist sample frequency. This approach is used because it has the potential to yield information on the suggested benefits of higher-than-Nyquist sample and reconstruction approaches in a real-world music production context