Adobe 22011292 - Audition User Manual page 88

CHAPTER 6
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Edit Menu – Edit View
Adjust Sample Rate Dialog
Choosing a higher sample rate results in Adobe Audition playing back the file at higher pitch (think "chipmunks"), while
selecting a lower sample rate results in a lower-pitched sound (think "drunk Darth Vader").
The sampling rate you choose determines the overall bandwidth (how many frequencies can be encoded
Sample Rate
within the audio signal). Higher sampling rates yield a wider bandwidth. You may enter any sample rate directly, or
choose a common sample rate from the list.
Note that most sound cards support only certain sample rates. Certain combinations of sample rate, channels, and
resolution may not be available on your system. To see the capabilities of your system, check Options > Settings > Device
Properties. Although you can create and edit any sample type with Adobe Audition, your sound card may not be capable
of playing it properly.
About Sample Rates
During the sampling process, an incoming analog signal is sampled at discrete time intervals. At each interval, this analog
signal is momentarily "held" for observation and thus represents a specific, measurable voltage level. A mathematical
conversion is used to generate a digital series of numbers that represent the signal level at that particular instant in time.
Once the conversion has been made, it can be digitally stored or processed.
The sampling rate is defined as the number of samples (or snapshots) that are taken of an audio signal per second. Since
sampling is tied directly to the component of time, a system's sampling rate determines a system's overall bandwidth –
in other words, how many frequencies can be encoded within the audio signal. Higher sampling rates generally yield a
better-quality waveform.
The most commonly encountered sample rates used for digital audio editing are:
11,025 Hz Poor AM Radio Quality/Speech (low-end multimedia)
•
22,050 Hz Near FM Radio Quality (high-end multimedia)
•
32,000 Hz Better than FM Radio Quality (standard broadcast rate)
•