Sample resolution

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. What does sample resolution (bit depth) measure?

A The number of bits used to store each sample

B The number of samples taken every second

2. Which change gives more possible volume levels for each sample?

A Increasing the sample resolution from 8 bits to 16 bits

B Decreasing the sample resolution from 16 bits to 8 bits

3. Which statement is correct?

A Sample resolution is measured in hertz (Hz)

B Sample resolution is a value stored for each sample

4. Which is a common sample resolution for music recordings?

A 16 bits per sample

B 1 bit per sample

5. A sound is stored with 8 bits per sample. How many different volume levels can each sample have?

A 8

B 256

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1resolution = 16		Arate = 44100 # samples per second resolution = 16 # bits per sample
2levels = 2 ** 8		BThis mixes up resolution with sample rate. Resolution is bits per sample, not samples per second.
3Sample resolution is the number of bits used to store each single sample		CEach sample is stored using 16 bits, a common sample resolution for sound
4Sample rate is measured per second, but resolution is measured per sample		D8 bits per sample gives 256 possible volume levels
5resolution = 44100 samples per second		Ebits_per_sample = 16
6levels = 2 * 8 # 8 bits per sample		FThe levels are worked out with the wrong operator. 8 bits give 2 to the power 8 = 256 levels, not 2 x 8 = 16.

Definitions

sample resolution

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

resolution = __

bits = 8 levels = 2 __ bits

rate = 44100 resolution = 16 bits = rate * __________

samples = 10 resolution = 16 total = samples _ resolution

low = 2 ** 8 high = 2 ** 16 print(high _ low)

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A sample_rate = 44100

B bits_per_second = 16

C levels = 2 ** bits_per_sample

D print(levels)

Question 2

A bits = 8

B more_bits = bits + 8

C levels = 2 * more_bits

D print(levels)

Question 3

A bits = 16

B rate = 44100

C bits_per_sec = bits + rate

D print(bits_per_sec)

Question 4

A bits = 16

B seconds = 2

C rate = 1000

D size = bits * seconds

E print(size)

Question 5

A bits = 16

B levels = 2 ** bits

C if levels > 60000

D print("CD quality")

Answer Key

Sample resolution

Section A: Quick Questions

A — The number of bits used to store each sample

A — Increasing the sample resolution from 8 bits to 16 bits

B — Sample resolution is a value stored for each sample

A — 16 bits per sample

B — 256

Section B: Match the Pairs

resolution = 16 → Each sample is stored using 16 bits, a common sample resolution for sound

levels = 2 ** 8 → 8 bits per sample gives 256 possible volume levels

Sample resolution is the number of bits used to store each single sample → bits_per_sample = 16

Sample rate is measured per second, but resolution is measured per sample → rate = 44100 # samples per second resolution = 16 # bits per sample

resolution = 44100 samples per second → This mixes up resolution with sample rate. Resolution is bits per sample, not samples per second.

levels = 2 * 8 # 8 bits per sample → The levels are worked out with the wrong operator. 8 bits give 2 to the power 8 = 256 levels, not 2 x 8 = 16.

Section C: Definitions

sample resolution — The number of bits used to store each sample of a sound. More bits give more possible volume levels and a more accurate recording. 16 bits per sample is common.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

resolution = 16

bits = 8
levels = 2 ** bits

rate = 44100
resolution = 16
bits = rate * resolution

samples = 10
resolution = 16
total = samples * resolution

low = 2 ** 8
high = 2 ** 16
print(high > low)

Section E: Spot the Error

B — Sample resolution is the number of bits stored for each sample, not per second. The line should be bits_per_sample = 16 (the rate is the part measured per second).

C — The number of volume levels is 2 raised to the power of the bits per sample. It should be levels = 2 ** more_bits, not multiplication by 2.

C — Bits per second is bits per sample multiplied by samples per second. It should be bits * rate, not bits + rate.

D — The sample rate is missing. File size in bits = bits per sample * samples per second * seconds, so the line should be size = bits * rate * seconds.

C — An if statement must end with a colon. The line should be if levels > 60000: