It is very important to know two parameters for audio file, sampling rate and word size.And start with uncompressed formats. You aren't anywhere near ready to deal with figuring out how much processing power is needed for dealing with compressed formats.
An audio file format is a file format for storing digital audio data on a computer system.
The most common uncompressed audio formats are WAV, AIFF, AU, PCM or BWF.
In digital audio, the sound wave of the audio signal is typically encoded as numerical samples in a continuous sequence.
Sample rates are usually measured per second, The number of samples the processer takes per second is known as the sample rate. For example, in CD audio, samples are taken 44,100 times per second, each with 16-bit sample depth.
Digital audio resolution is measured in sample depth. Most digital audio formats use a sample depth of either 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit. Common sample rates are 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, and 96 kHz. kHz stands for kilohertz, or 1000 samples per second, so 44.1 kHz represents 44100 samples per second. This many samples are needed to capture the full complexity of sound waves.
AIFF files = sample rate of 44.1 kHz and a bit depth of 16 bits.
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