A source sampling rate is associated with first or second groups of sampling rates. A playback rate is determined by: (a) selecting the source sampling rate if the source sampling rate is supported by a playback environment; (b) otherwise if there is a highest first rate from the first or second groups of playback sampling rates which is supported by the playback environment and is lower than the source sampling rate, selecting the first rate; (c) otherwise if there is a slowest second rate from the group that the source sampling rate is associated with that is supported by the playback environment and is higher than the source sampling rate, selecting the second rate; (d) otherwise selecting the slowest sampling rate supported by the playback environment from the group that the source sampling rate is not associated with as the playback rate.