Sound File Formats
There are multiple different formats of which you can save sound files.
Uncompressed
WAV; Waveform Audio File Format, also known as WAVE... most commonly known as WAV. WAV is a file extension name for a sound file that is being saved onto a Windows Macintosh or Linux operating system. It is the main format used in windows. WAV is used to store uncompressed sound files, however in some cases compressed files could be stored in this format also.
AIFF; Audio Intercharge File Format, it is very similar to a WAV file. The only real difference is an AIFF is the file extension for Apple software.
AU; An AU File Format is a more simpler file format, also saved as .snd
SMP; An SMP file is used more for mixing music, it allows different levels of a track to be saved as well as saving sheet music.
VOC; VOC files store digitalized sounds, including sound effects and speech. This is often used for CD Audio Tracks.
Compressed
MP3; MP3 is probably the most well known file extension, it is most commonly used for storing music on various devices.
RA; RA stands for RealAudio and is most used to stream audio files although it isn't very common anymore.
VOX; VOX is a audio file that is used to store sound, often human voices or speech. Mostly used and edited using VoxWare MetaSound.
Resolution & Bit-Depth
How can resolution and bit-depth constrain file-size?
- Resolution and bit-depth can both impact the size of an audio file, the smaller the bit depth the poorer the quality would be, a high bit-depth could pick up almost silent sounds like a pin dropping. Resolution would vastly depend on whether the file has a high or low bit-depth. The resolution of a picture is how clear or blurry it is... It's the same with sound, a good resolution would be clean cut sounds where as a low resolution would sound muffled and crackly.
Explain what the following words mean:
Sample Rate; is the amount of audio samples carried out within a second and measured in Hz or kHz. For example; 33 200 would measure as 33 200 Hz or 33.2 kHz.
Mono; often uses one speaker for a whole room, making the sound quality only available in a close proximity to the system or computer.
Stereo; is a speaker on either side of a computer or stereo, allowing sound to travel in two directions.
Surround; sound uses multiple speakers around the room allowing the sound to travel around the entire space.
Audio Limitations
How can the following information limit the recording of sound?
Digital Signal Processor, DSP: A DSP can take an analog file and manipulate the file digitally before converting it back to an analog file. This process is a mathematical procedure that tries to alter the time within a file, ultimately making the file size potentially smaller. The limits this could have on recording sound could be storage, to make the file smaller it must be a large file therefore potentially not allowing you to record so much without loosing a good level of quality.
Random Access Memory, RAM: RAM is a form of computer data storage that is built into a computer, or laptop. The limitations RAM can give when recording would vastly depend on how much RAM you have. The lower the RAM the smaller the file would have to be, this could also effect quality.
File Format: A file format is the way in which you save a file. There are various different ways to save sound. The most recognizable way to save an audio file would probably be mp3. In regards to recording limitations is would solely depend on the file format that the audio is being saved under. If you were to record audio and save it as an mp3 file then this would take up more space due to the file format being uncompressed. Where as if you were to save it as a WAV or AIFF then the file would be compressed allowing for more space to save the file.
Audio Output: Referring to different methods of distributing sounds. There is mono, which would produce the same sounds through one speaker. Stereo is usually two different speakers on either side of the computer or a TV, these can help your brain recognize where the sounds are coming from. Surround sound has multiple speakers within the room, this allows the sound to travel more freely and can portray various different sounds at the same time without sounding too jumbled. This could limit recording depending on the audio output you choose, surround sound gives better quality however mono may be more convenient.
Pulse Code Modulation, PCM: PCM using analog signals to transfer and process it into a digital signal. A good example of this is Skype, speaking into a microphone using an analog voice would have to be processed by taking miniature samples and converting them into a digital sound and allowing the other person to hear what you are saying. In regards to recording limitations it would be a more poorer method of recording sounds.
Audio Recording Systems
In what types of scenario would you use the following audio recording equipment?
Multi-Track Recording: In terms of the whole media industry a multi-track recording would be used more in the music side of things. However, taking this back to gaming it could be used to make a CD of all of the soundtracks within a game, other wise it would just be used for singers/bands to make their albums.
No comments:
Post a Comment