Nyquist Frequency Calculator

In digital audio and signal processing, the Nyquist frequency is the highest frequency a system can accurately capture — equal to exactly half the sampling frequency. Enter your sampling frequency and signal frequency (in Hz, kHz, or MHz) into the Nyquist Frequency Calculator to see whether your signal is being captured cleanly or distorted. You'll get the Nyquist frequency, aliasing status, perceived frequency (if aliasing occurs), and the minimum sampling rate needed for accurate capture.

Hz

The frequency at which the signal is sampled

Hz

The frequency of the input signal to be sampled

Results

Nyquist Frequency

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Aliasing Status

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Perceived Frequency

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Minimum Sampling Rate

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nyquist frequency?

The Nyquist frequency is half of the sampling rate of a digital signal processing system. It represents the highest frequency that can be accurately represented in the sampled signal without aliasing.

How do I calculate the minimum sampling rate?

According to the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem, the minimum sampling rate must be at least twice the highest frequency component in the signal. This is called the Nyquist rate.

What happens when aliasing occurs?

Aliasing occurs when the signal frequency exceeds the Nyquist frequency. The signal appears at a lower frequency in the sampled data, causing distortion and loss of the original signal information.

Why is 44.1 kHz used for CD audio?

CD audio uses 44.1 kHz sampling because human hearing extends up to about 20 kHz. The 44.1 kHz rate provides a Nyquist frequency of 22.05 kHz, safely above the audible range with room for anti-aliasing filters.

What is oversampling and why is it used?

Oversampling uses a sampling rate much higher than the Nyquist rate. It reduces noise, simplifies anti-aliasing filter design, and improves the signal-to-noise ratio in the final output.

How does the Nyquist frequency relate to ADC and DAC performance?

In ADC and DAC systems, the Nyquist frequency determines the maximum input frequency that can be converted without aliasing. It's crucial for analyzing dynamic performance and harmonic distortion.