Sampling resolution
Precision of sampled values determined by bit depth. Higher resolution enables capturing finer amplitude variations. Resolution-rate tradeoff exists.
Formula
Quantisation levels = 2^n (where n = bit depth)
Real World
Apple's GarageBand records at 24-bit resolution, giving roughly 16 million amplitude levels per sample — far smoother than an 8-bit recording's 256 levels, which sounds grainy.
Exam Focus
Link higher resolution to larger file size AND better quality — calculation questions often ask you to show both trade-offs.
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