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2. Sampling
Sampling is a method of converting an analogue sound signal into a set of binary numbers that are then stored in a digital file.
The diagram below shows a typical sound wave:
The idea of 'sampling' is to take measurements of the amplitude of the sound wave at various points in time. Like this:
Each of the samples above are measuring the amplitude of the signal at that instant. This results in a set of numbers like this:
| Sample number | Measurement |
| 1 | 0.6 |
|---|---|
| 2 | 0.5 |
| 3 | -0.3 |
| 4 | -0.8 |
| 5 | -0.1 |
Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you
Click on this link: what are sound samples