Please explain terminology

OK I'll give this a go.

The 44.1kHz figure represents the frequency I.e. how often a sample is taken I.e. 44,100 times each second. The second figure, 2116 kb/s represents the bit rate per second. It is calculated by taking the sample rate of 44.1 kHz and multiplying it by the number of channels  (2 for a stereo recording) and then by the number of bits for each sample. In this case the samples are 24 bits each.

So 44.1 kHz X 2 channels X 24 bits = 2116 kb/s

incidentally, normally CD WAV Files have a bit rate of 1,411 kb/s I.e. 44.1kHz X 2 X 16 bits so it looks like you are up-sampling from 16bit samples to 24bit.

Yes, the higher the sample rate, the more accurately the audio wave form will be sampled and also the higher the audio frequency which can be captured. However, perhaps more important is the bit size of each sample as this determines the amount of audio data captured and therefore the accuracy of each audio sample.

As I understand it 44.1KHz is indeed the sampling rate. ie a snapshot of the audio is taken 44,100 times per second. The second figure is the data rate so the amount of data per second being transferred. As you say the higher the numbers the higher the resolution.

Also, as a rule the larger the numbers, generally the larger the file size as it will store more data. Any only some file formats have the capability to store the information i.e. MP3 stops at 48 Khz/ 320 kbs.  FLAC, ALAC and WAV are some of the formats that can handle the higher resolution.

44.1 kHz / 16 bits

96 kHz / 24 bits

192 kHz / 24 bits

The sampling frequency means how many samplea are taken of a particular fragment of music per an interval

On-line searches work well for exploring such matters. Wikipedia is typically good at providing objective insight and the links will take you as deep into the subject as you wish to go.

Thanks very much everyone - much as I thought.

I do find a couple of hi-res downloads I have to be quite superior in sound quality over standard CD rips !

Al

I often find that it is easier to imagine the sample rate (kHz) and bit-depth (bits) as specifying the dimensions of the carrier or 'bucket' that your music sits inside ... if you make the bucket bigger with a higher sample rate (then the higher the frequency that the file can reproduce) or with a higher bit-depth (then the more accurate each sample can be) then the capacity for carrying a better sounding content is increased.

What most people don't remember though is that bucket can be filled with anything between fine wine or malt vinegar - high sample rates and bit-depths don't necessarily mean better quality audio.

Phil

As with anything it seems - pros & cons

Thanks for reply - most interesting