Eli5: How is it that our voices are distinct enough to be captured by a recording instrument and replayed accurately

Question

For example, say 100 people each read / sang an identical passage into a recorder. It seems as though the frequency, amplitude etc that is captured wouldn’t anywhere near specific/precise enough the be accurately represented when played back. I.e what variables are at play that allow us to easily discern the 100 distinct voices when replayed? Thanks!

In: 5

Answer 1

Good recording equipment is highly precise. A middle C, in the middle of the voice band, is 260 cycles per second. Good recording gear can capture 44K samples per second at 24 bits per sample (0-8,388,608), or 160 values for each sine wave of a note. Each voice makes slightly different waves and that sampling resolution is quite sufficient to tell them apart.