Media

Audio Sample Rate and Bit Depth Describe Different Limits

Two audio files can carry labels such as 44.1 kHz/16-bit and 96 kHz/24-bit, yet those numbers describe separate parts of the digital signal. A larger value in one field does not compensate for a smaller value in the other, and neither number by itself states the quality of the recording, mix, codec, speakers, or headphones. Sample rate describes how often an analog waveform is represented by discrete measurements over time. Bit depth describes how many numerical amplitude values are available for each sample in linear PCM audio. Keeping those roles separate makes format specifications much easier to interpret.