SamplingRaten

SamplingRaten is a term used in digital signal processing to denote the rate at which a continuous-time signal is sampled to produce a discrete-time signal. The unit is samples per second, commonly expressed as hertz (Hz). The chosen SamplingRaten determines how faithfully the original signal can be represented in digital form and interacts with the signal’s bandwidth.

According to the Nyquist criterion, the sampling rate should be at least twice the highest frequency present in the signal to avoid aliasing, a phenomenon where higher frequencies masquerade as lower ones. In practice, an anti-aliasing low-pass filter is often applied before sampling to limit the signal’s bandwidth to what the SamplingRaten can accurately capture. Oversampling—taking a higher rate than strictly necessary—can improve noise performance and simplify analog filtering, while undersampling risks information loss.

Common applications illustrate typical choices for SamplingRaten. In audio, standard rates like 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz balance fidelity with file size and processing requirements; professional audio or archival work may use 96 kHz or 192 kHz. Video and multimedia pipelines use rates tied to frame rates and processing needs. In instrumentation and sensors, SamplingRaten is selected based on the signal’s bandwidth, dynamic range, and the capabilities of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

Non-uniform or event-driven sampling exists but is more complex to analyze and process. In most traditional systems, SamplingRaten is fixed and synchronized across components, enabling predictable digital processing and storage.

See also: Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem, analog-to-digital conversion, anti-aliasing.