Sampling rate and bit depth, Sampling rate, Bit depths – Sound Devices 702 User Manual

Page 22: Sampling rate bit depths

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702 User Guide and Technical Information

20

v. 2.67

Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.

When polyphonic file type is selected in the same scenario as above with track A muted, the result-

ing data file will be a two-track file with track A being a blank track. Blank tracks in polyphonic files

take up the same amout of storage space as tracks that are assigned.

Sampling Rate and Bit Depth

When recording the 702 generates uncompressed, PCM audio WAV files in the Broadcast Wave File

format at the user-selected sampling rate and bit depth. The 702 LCD calculates available recording

time based on the sampling rate, bit depth, number of tracks armed for recording and the storage

media’s available capacity. See the

Calculating Recording Time

later in this guide to estimate record

time.

Sampling Rate

When a sampling rate is selected for recording, all tracks are recorded at the selected sampling

rate. Sampling rates are selected among common rates from 32 kHz to 192 kHz. Additionally,

non-standard sampling rates can be applied when the 702 is word clocked from an external source

(clock sources between 32 kHz and 192 kHz). When recording off-speed sampling rates files will be

stamped with the rate closest to an internally generated frequency.

Relationship Between Sampling Frequency and Audio Bandwidth

The sampling frequency is expressed in samples per second (in hertz) and defines the number of

times in a second that the analog audio signal has been measured. Sampling frequency determines

the audio bandwidth, or frequency response, that can be represented by the digital signal. A quick

estimate of the maximum bandwidth capable of being represented at a given sampling rate is

maximum analog frequency = sampling frequency/2. Higher sampling frequencies allow for greater

audio bandwidth.

The 702 generates the following sampling rates:

• 32 kHz

• 44.1 kHz

• 47.952 kHz

• 47.952kF - file stamped at 48 kHz

• 48 kHz

• 48.048 kHz

• 48.048kF -file stamped at 48 kHz

• 88.2 kHz

• 96 kHz

• 96.096 kHz

• 96.096kF - file stamped at 96 kHz

• 176.4 kHz

• 192 kHz

Bit Depths

The 702 records at bit depths of either 16 or 24 bit. 24 bit recording provides greater dynamic range

and addition headroom for signal peaks relative to 16 bit recordings. 24 bit recording (versus 16 bit)

is a significant benefit for field production audio tracks.

Bit Depth = Available Dynamic Range

Bit depth defines the digital “word length” used to represent a given sample. Bit depth correlates to

the maximum dynamic range that can be represented by the digital signal. Larger bit depths accom-

modate more dynamic range. A quick estimate of maximum dynamic range capable of being rep-

resented by a given word length is dynamic range ~= no. of bits x 6 dB. Bit depth is an exponential

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