Sampling Playground
Explore how digital audio captures analogue sound. Play with sample rate, bit depth, and file sizes — then put it all together.
How Sampling Captures Sound
Adjust the sample rate and wave frequency to see how digital sampling captures an analogue signal. Watch what happens when you drop below the Nyquist threshold.
Quantisation Staircase
Drag the slider to see how bit depth shapes the staircase approximation of an analogue signal. The shaded area shows quantisation error.
More bits = more levels = quieter noise floor. Each additional bit roughly doubles the number of amplitude levels, adding ~6 dB of dynamic range and reducing the quantisation noise that fills the error-shaded area above.
Estimate the File Size
Type your estimate in MB before revealing the answer. Commit first — no hints.
3-minute stereo podcast at 16-bit / 44.1 kHz
Extended Response Practice
Apply what you've explored. Write a short response to the scenario below.
A client asks you to record a podcast for streaming distribution. They want the best quality possible but are concerned about file sizes for hosting. Describe the sample rate and bit depth you would recommend, and evaluate why these settings are appropriate for this context.
Identify the technical detail → explain what it does
Why is this the right choice? What are the trade-offs?
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A-Level Music Technology — Component 4: Producing and Analysing