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Sampling Format

An important factor in determining the quality of the sampled sound is the number of bits per sample.  This specifies the number of discrete levels that are used in the analog to digital (A/D) conversion process and directly affects the dynamic range of the measurement.  The theoretical dynamic range is shown below:

8 bit sampling precision = 48 dB
16 bit sampling precision = 96 dB
24 bit sampling precision = 144 dB

In practice, the achievable dynamic range is less that the theoretical maximum due to internal noise and other factors.  Refer to your DT-9800 data acquisition module  documentation for the actual performance figures.  


See also:  FFT size , Scaling, Measurement Accuracy