Sound is analogue — it is a continuous wave. Computers cannot store continuous waves, so they take regular 'snapshots' (samples) of the sound wave's amplitude at set intervals. Each sample is stored as a binary number.
Key points
Definition:Analogue Sound: sound represented as a continuous wave that varies smoothly over time.
Definition:Sample: a measurement of the amplitude (height) of a sound wave at a specific point in time, stored as a binary number.
Definition:Sampling Rate: the number of samples taken per second, measured in hertz (Hz). 1 Hz = 1 sample per second.
Definition:Bit Depth (Sound): the number of bits used to store the amplitude value of each sound sample when converting analogue sound into digital form. More bits = more precise amplitude values.
Sound is analogue (continuous); computers store it digitally (discrete samples).
Exam Tip:A higher sampling rate captures MORE samples per second, creating a more accurate representation of the original sound wave.
Exam Tip:Sound sampling measures the AMPLITUDE (height) of the wave at regular intervals. It does NOT measure the frequency of the wave. This is a VERY common exam mistake.
Common Mistake:Saying 'the frequency of the wave is measured'. In sound, frequency relates to pitch. What is SAMPLED is the AMPLITUDE at set intervals.
Each sample is stored as a binary number. These binary numbers are stored sequentially to reconstruct the sound during playback.