Audio Sample Rate Calculator
Calculate audio file size based on sample rate, bit depth, channels, and duration.
Plan your storage for recording sessions.
Audio sample rate and file size are two fundamental concepts in digital audio: sample rate determines audio quality and frequency response, while bit depth and sample rate together determine file size.
The Nyquist-Shannon Theorem: Maximum Reproducible Frequency = Sample Rate ÷ 2 To accurately reproduce audio up to 20,000 Hz (human hearing limit): Minimum sample rate = 20,000 × 2 = 40,000 Hz → standard became 44,100 Hz (44.1 kHz)
Common audio sample rates and their uses:
| Sample Rate | Max Frequency | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 Hz (8 kHz) | 4,000 Hz | Telephone voice quality |
| 22,050 Hz | 11,025 Hz | AM radio, low-quality audio |
| 44,100 Hz (44.1 kHz) | 22,050 Hz | CD audio, music streaming standard |
| 48,000 Hz (48 kHz) | 24,000 Hz | Professional video/broadcast standard |
| 88,200 / 96,000 Hz | 44,100 / 48,000 Hz | Studio recording |
| 176,400 / 192,000 Hz | 88,200 / 96,000 Hz | High-resolution audio mastering |
File size formula (uncompressed audio): File Size (bytes) = Sample Rate × Bit Depth ÷ 8 × Channels × Duration (seconds)
Where:
- Bit Depth = bits per sample (16-bit CD, 24-bit studio)
- Channels = 1 (mono), 2 (stereo)
- ÷ 8 = converts bits to bytes
Worked example — 5-minute stereo song: At CD quality (44,100 Hz, 16-bit, stereo): File size = 44,100 × 16 ÷ 8 × 2 × (5 × 60) = 176,400 × 300 = 52,920,000 bytes ≈ 50.5 MB (WAV/AIFF)
Same file as MP3 at 320 kbps: 320,000 × 300 ÷ 8 = 12 MB (~76% smaller) Same file as MP3 at 128 kbps: 4.8 MB (~91% smaller)
Bit depth contribution to dynamic range: Dynamic Range (dB) ≈ Bit Depth × 6.02 16-bit: ~96 dB | 24-bit: ~144 dB | 32-bit float: ~192 dB