Hello everyone,
I have been searching in this forum and I didn’t find the answer to my question, so here I go.
How can I know the sample rate and the resolution in bits of my audio .wav file?
I have converted a .mp3 file to a .wav one using audacity, and I have indicated to be:
-16 bit PCM
Also, according to the internet (reference) , the frequency in which audio files are stored in .wav files is 44.1 kHz.
So, after exporting the .wav file is created perfectly, and when I open the .wav file with Audacity, on the left side this appears (see the image).
What is the sample rate and the bit resolution of my audio file, then?
Check it with MediaInfoOnline (or you can install MediaInfo on your computer).
Audacity works in 32-bit floating point internally and when you open a file it gets up-converted.
The sample rate (kHz) doesn’t normally change, or if you open more than one file the Project Rate will be set to match to the 1st file and that’s what you’ll get (by default) when you export.
That’s only for audio CDs. (1) Most video uses 48kHz (and usually lossy compression). “High resolution” audio uses higher sample rates and higher bit depths. Most telephone systems use lower sample rates & bit depth.
(1) Audio CDs don’t have WAV files or any “computer files” and that’s why they have to be “ripped” and you can’t simply copy the files to your hard drive. But they use the same underlying uncompressed PCM format as WAV files. (You can burn WAV or MP3 files to a CD as “data” and you can play it on a computer, but a regular-old CD player won’t play it.)
