Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Q on sample size/rate and bit rate for wav files

by oniket Jul 15, 2006 3:14AM PDT

Hi All,
I understand that for a wav file the bit rate is the product
of sample rate and sample size. My questions is does only
the total bitrate determine the quality of a wav audio file or
the sample size and bitrates also matter? What I mean to
ask is that would a wav file with sample size=4, sample rate=32khz
be same in quality as a wave file with sample size=8 and
sample rate=16khz? (Both having 128kbs bitrate)

Will very much appreciate your clarification.
Thanks in advance

Oniket

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Wish it was that simple.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 15, 2006 4:15AM PDT

Let's say I was recording the sound of an nearly empty cave with a occasional insect chirp. From very low to high bitrates won't matter much. More bits when you have a complex sound, less for less complex.

This is why I enjoy using VBR. What's that? google.com

Bob

- Collapse -
The sample rate should be twice the highest frequency you
by Kiddpeat Jul 17, 2006 11:03AM PDT

want to record for a wav file. That's basically how commercial CDs are recorded. For example, if you want to capture up to 20khz, your sample rate should be at least 40,000 per second. The standard sample rate is a bit higher at 44,100 samples per second.

I assume that your 'sample size' means the number of bits in each sample. The number of bits determine the dynamic range (volume) that can be captured. More bits could mean a higher range, or more precise 'steps' within a range, or both. Sample rate and bits per sample do not interact. They represent different things. Your example would not produce identical results.

- Collapse -
Re: The sample rate should be twice the highest frequency yo
by oniket Jul 17, 2006 6:13PM PDT

Thanks for the info though its a bit technical.
What I really want to ask is this. I have a .wav voice
audio file which is encoded with IMA ADCPM
and is 4bit, 32khz (=128kbs). I want to convert it into a wav
file with PCM encoder with wavepad and keep the file size
(bit rate) within 256kbs (The reason I want to convert it is
because my other sound editor only accepts PCM encoded
wav file). But wavepad can save it as PCM wav file with either
16khz, 8bit,16bit or 24khz, 8bit. Just wondering what would
be the best choice for me, the 256kbs (16khz with 16bit), or
192kbs(24khz with 8bit)? for the voice audio file I have?

Thanks in advance.

- Collapse -
Do both and test.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2006 10:59PM PDT

You only have to try it twice to figure out.

"Just wondering what would
be the best choice for me, the 256kbs (16khz with 16bit), or192kbs(24khz with 8bit)? for the voice audio file I have?"

You are minutes away from figuring this out.

Bob

- Collapse -
Since it is voice, it probably doesn't matter. Either sample
by Kiddpeat Jul 17, 2006 11:52PM PDT

rate should be ok, but, as Bob said, try it and see.

- Collapse -
CD quality Wave File
by tkareem Aug 27, 2006 8:31PM PDT

Although they represent different things the sample rate and number of bits per sample must be mutiplied to yield the number of bits per sample. In addition for CD Audio the product must be multiplied by 2 for stereo.

44,100 samples/second x 16 bits/sample x 2 = 1411200 bits/second or 1411.2 kbps

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT) and your new information is?
by Kiddpeat Aug 28, 2006 2:27AM PDT
Back to Audio & Video Software forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info