Sample Rate
Definition
The number of audio samples captured per second in a digital recording, measured in Hz or kHz. Higher sample rates capture a wider frequency range and provide more headroom above the audible spectrum for processing.
In Simple Terms
How many snapshots of sound your system captures per second. 44,100 per second (44.1 kHz) is the music standard, 48,000 (48 kHz) is the video standard. Both capture everything the human ear can hear.
In Practice
A session recorded at 48 kHz captures 48,000 samples per second, sufficient to accurately represent any frequency within the full range of human hearing.
Sources & Verification
- Shannon, C. E. — Communication in the Presence of Noise (Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem)Proceedings of the IRE, 1949
- AES5-2018 — AES recommended practice for professional digital audioAudio Engineering Society, 2018
- Pohlmann, K. C. — Principles of Digital Audio (6th ed.)McGraw-Hill, 2011
Last verified: 2026-05-05