Ch 9 · Representing Sound · Theory

Topic 9 of 14 in Data Representation — How Computers Store Everything as Numbers — 2 lessons.

Sampling a Wave

Sound is a smooth (analogue) wave. To store it digitally, the computer samples it — measures its height at regular instants and records each height as a number.

Sound File Size

File size ≈ sample rate × resolution × seconds (× channels for stereo).

All topics in Theory Data-representation

1. Why Computers Use Binary
2. Counting in Binary
3. Hexadecimal — Shorthand for Binary
4. Binary Addition & Overflow
5. Negative Numbers — Two's Complement
6. Logical Binary Shifts
7. Representing Text
8. Representing Images
9. Representing Sound
10. Storage Units & Compression
11. Floating-Point Numbers (A Level)
12. More Number Representations
13. File Organisation & Access (A Level)
14. Check Your Understanding