What is Digital Audio?

Digital audio is sound stored as numbers - the foundation of all music, podcasts, and voice recordings on computers

Digital Audio: Simple Definition

Digital audio is sound that has been converted into numerical data that computers can store and process. When you record audio digitally, the sound waves are sampled thousands of times per second and each sample is stored as a number.

CD-quality audio samples sound 44,100 times per second (44.1kHz) and stores each sample as a 16-bit number. This creates perfectly accurate sound reproduction that can be played back identically on any device.

How Digital Audio Works

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) measures the amplitude (loudness) of a sound wave at regular intervals and converts each measurement to a digital number. The more samples taken per second (sample rate) and the larger each number (bit depth), the more accurate the representation.

When you play audio, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) reads the numbers and reconstructs the original sound wave, which is then amplified and sent to speakers or headphones.

Examples of Digital Audio

CD quality audio

44,100 samples per second, 16-bit depth. The standard for music distribution since 1982.

Hi-Res audio

96kHz or 192kHz sample rate, 24-bit depth. Used by audiophiles and professional recording studios.

Phone calls

8kHz sample rate, 8-bit or G.711 compression. Minimum quality for understandable speech.

Streaming audio

AAC at 256kbps (Apple Music) or OGG Vorbis at 320kbps (Spotify). Lossy compression of CD-quality source.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is sample rate?

Sample rate is how many times per second audio is measured. CD uses 44.1kHz (44,100 samples/second). Higher rates capture more detail.

What is bit depth?

Bit depth determines the dynamic range of audio. 16-bit (CD) gives 96dB range. 24-bit (Hi-Res) gives 144dB range.

Is 24-bit audio better than 16-bit?

For recording and editing, yes. For final listening, the difference is essentially inaudible on consumer audio equipment.

What is the best audio format?

FLAC for lossless archiving. AAC or OGG for compressed listening. WAV for professional production.

What does "lossless" mean for audio?

Lossless audio (FLAC, ALAC, WAV) stores all the original data perfectly. Lossy audio (MP3, AAC) discards some data to achieve smaller file sizes.