Home Back

Sound File Size Calculator

Sound File Size Formula:

\[ size = sample\_rate \times duration \times bit\_depth / 8 \times channels \]

Hz
seconds
bits
channels

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From: To:

1. What Is Sound File Size Calculation?

Sound file size calculation estimates the storage space required for digital audio files based on their technical parameters. Understanding file size helps in storage planning, bandwidth management, and optimizing audio quality for different applications.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ size = sample\_rate \times duration \times bit\_depth / 8 \times channels \]

Where:

Explanation: The formula calculates the raw PCM audio data size without compression. The division by 8 converts bits to bytes (1 byte = 8 bits).

3. Importance Of File Size Calculation

Details: Accurate file size estimation is essential for storage planning, streaming bandwidth requirements, and understanding the trade-offs between audio quality and file size in various applications.

4. Using The Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this calculation account for compressed audio formats?
A: No, this formula calculates the size of uncompressed PCM audio. Compressed formats like MP3 or AAC will have smaller file sizes depending on the compression ratio.

Q2: What are typical values for sample rate and bit depth?
A: Common sample rates include 44.1kHz (CD quality) and 48kHz (professional audio). Bit depth is typically 16-bit (CD quality) or 24-bit (high-resolution audio).

Q3: How does this relate to bitrate?
A: Bitrate (in kbps) can be calculated as sample_rate × bit_depth × channels. File size is bitrate × duration / 8.

Q4: 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 rather than bits.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation for real-world applications?
A: This provides the size of raw audio data. Actual file sizes may vary slightly due to file headers, metadata, and compression algorithms.

Sound File Size Calculator© - All Rights Reserved 2025