Digital Audio Data Rate Calculations Demystified
Calculating the raw data size of uncompressed linear PCM audio requires understanding how sampling frequency and word length combine over time:
$$ ext{Bitrate (bps)} = ext{Sample Rate (Hz)} imes ext{Bit Depth} imes ext{Channels}$$
$$ ext{File Size (Bytes)} = rac{ ext{Bitrate (bps)} imes ext{Duration (seconds)}}{8}$$
Exact mathematical formula for uncompressed digital PCM audio file size
For example, a standard 24-bit / 96 kHz stereo tracking session generates 4,608 kbps of raw audio data—equivalent to over 34.5 megabytes every minute per stereo track.