Signal Processing & DSP

Intermediate

Nyquist Rate

Sample at least twice the highest frequency to avoid aliasing.

Formula

f_s \ge 2 f_{max}

Variables

f_sSampling rate (Hz)

f_{max}Highest signal frequency (Hz)

Example

Audio to 20 kHz needs f_s ≥ 40 kHz (CD uses 44.1 kHz)

Did You Know?

CD audio's 44.1 kHz rate leaves headroom above the 40 kHz Nyquist minimum for gentle anti-alias filtering.

dsp nyquist sampling

Share this formula

More in Signal Processing & DSP

FFT Bin Frequency

Frequency represented by the k-th bin of an N-point FFT.

Frequency Resolution

Spacing between adjacent FFT bins.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Ratio of signal power to noise power, in decibels.

Quantisation SNR

Best possible SNR (dB) of an ideal b-bit converter.

Decibel (Power Ratio)

Express a power ratio in decibels.

Decibel (Amplitude Ratio)

Express a voltage/amplitude ratio in decibels.