Sound representation refers to the methods and techniques used to describe and store audio or sound information in a format that can be processed, transmitted, or stored by electronic devices and systems. Sound in the real world is , represented as continuous variations in air pressure (sound waves). To work with sound in digital devices, it must be converted to a format. When audio is converted from analog to digital, it is represented as a series of numerical values, typically . These samples capture the (loudness) of the sound at each point in time.
The sampling rate, often referred to as the , is the number of audio samples taken per second during the analog-to-digital conversion process. It is measured in , which indicates the number of samples per second. A higher sample rate can result in better audio quality, especially for high-frequency content. Sampling Resolution, often referred to as , determines the number of bits used to represent the amplitude of each audio sample. Higher bit depths provide better audio quality because they can represent a wider , resulting in less quantization noise.
Lossy sound compression reduces audio file sizes by selectively discarding data, trading off some audio quality, and applying perceptual coding. Popular formats like and AAC use these techniques, making them suitable for music streaming and storage. Dynamic microphones perform analogue to digital conversion using a diaphragm that oscillates back and forth when sound waves hit it. The bar magnet, attached to the diaphragm, moves back and forth through the , creating a current that flows into the computer's sound card for processing.
Keywords
sampling frequency | sampled at regular intervals | amplitude | bit depth | digital | dynamic range | hertz (hz) | mp3 | analog | coil |
