A radio station records an interview with a computer scientist using a computer and audio recording software - OCR - GCSE Computer Science - Question 1 - 2019 - Paper 1

Sampling is the process of measuring an audio signal at regular intervals to convert it into a digital format. In audio recording, the height or amplitude of the waveform is sampled at specified sample rates, usually expressed in Hertz (Hz). This allows the analog sound waves to be represented as discrete values, enabling digital storage and playback.

The number of samples taken per second directly affects the quality of the audio recording; a higher sample rate results in a more accurate representation of the sound. For instance, a common sample rate for CD audio is 44,100 Hz, meaning that the sound wave is sampled 44,100 times every second.

Additionally, the sampling process must consider the Nyquist theorem, which states that the sample rate should be at least twice the highest frequency of the audio signal to avoid distortion and loss of information.