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Sound Devices File Size Calculator

WAV File Size Formula:

\[ S = \frac{SR \times BD \times D \times CH}{8} \]

Hz
bits
seconds
channels

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1. What is the WAV File Size Formula?

The WAV file size formula calculates the storage space required for uncompressed audio files. It's based on the audio's sample rate, bit depth, duration, and number of channels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the WAV file size equation:

\[ S = \frac{SR \times BD \times D \times CH}{8} \]

Where:

Explanation: The formula multiplies all audio parameters together and divides by 8 to convert from bits to bytes.

3. Importance of File Size Calculation

Details: Calculating audio file sizes is essential for storage planning, bandwidth estimation, and project management in audio production and broadcasting.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter sample rate in Hz, bit depth in bits, duration in seconds, and number of channels. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why divide by 8 in the formula?
A: We divide by 8 to convert from bits to bytes, since file sizes are typically measured in bytes (1 byte = 8 bits).

Q2: Does this formula work for compressed formats like MP3?
A: No, this formula is specifically for uncompressed WAV files. Compressed formats have variable file sizes based on compression algorithms.

Q3: What are typical values for sample rate and bit depth?
A: Common sample rates are 44.1kHz (CD quality) and 48kHz (professional audio). Bit depth is typically 16-bit or 24-bit.

Q4: How does stereo vs mono affect file size?
A: Stereo (2 channels) files are approximately twice the size of mono (1 channel) files with the same duration and quality.

Q5: Can I calculate file size in different units?
A: Yes, you can convert bytes to kilobytes (divide by 1024), megabytes (divide by 1,048,576), or gigabytes (divide by 1,073,741,824).

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