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Fundamentals of data representationGeneralsoundsamplingsample resolution

AQA GCSE · Question 13.1 · Fundamentals of data representation

Analogue sound must be converted to a digital form for storage and processing in a computer. Define the term sample resolution.

How to approach this question

Think about what is being measured when a sound wave is sampled. Each sample records the amplitude (height) of the wave at a point in time. How is the precision of that measurement defined? What unit is it measured in?

Full Answer

The number of bits used to store the value of each sample.
When an analogue sound wave is converted to a digital signal, the process is called sampling. The amplitude (or height) of the wave is measured at regular intervals. **Sample resolution**, also known as bit depth, refers to the number of bits that are used to store the value of each of these individual measurements (samples). A higher sample resolution means more bits are used per sample, allowing for a more accurate representation of the original sound's amplitude, which results in higher quality audio.

Common mistakes

✗ Confusing sample resolution with sample rate (which is the number of samples taken per second). ✗ Vague answers like "the quality of the sound". ✗ Describing image resolution instead of sound sample resolution.

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