Digital signal and image processing
Would you rather
More samples or more bits? You pick
More samples per second, or more bits per sample?
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Key points
- Sampling rate sets the highest frequency you capture, since you can only record up to half the sampling rate.
- Bit depth sets quantisation noise, with each extra bit adding about 6 decibels of dynamic range, so the weak spot decides.
Takeaway: Rate limits frequency; bits limit noise. Fix the weaker one.
Quick check: Would you rather double the sampling rate or add 4 bits per sample?
- Double the sampling rate
- Add 4 bits per sample
- Depends on the case
Fix aliasing with sampling rate; fix quantisation noise with bit depth.
Sampling rateBit depth
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