Exam-style question
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Explain the difference between sample resolution and sampling rate. Include the effect of each on the digital representation of sound.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Sample resolution is the number of bits used to store the value of each individual sample.
- It determines how many different amplitude values can be represented.
- Sampling rate is the number of samples taken per second, measured in samples per second or hertz.
- It determines how frequently the sound is measured.
Explanation
Why this works
The two terms describe different aspects of representation: resolution concerns the precision of each stored sample, while sampling rate concerns how often measurements are taken. A correct explanation should also connect sampling rate with the Nyquist theorem.
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