What does 'bit rate' represent in audio recording?

'Bit rate' in audio recording refers to the amount of information that is processed or stored in a given unit of time, typically measured in bits per second (bps). A higher bit rate means that more data is used to represent the audio sample, which generally correlates with better sound quality. This is important because it impacts the clarity, fidelity, and overall richness of the audio.

While the other options mention aspects closely related to audio recording, they do not accurately define what bit rate measures. The speed of audio playback deals with how fast the audio is played back rather than the data storage aspect. The quality of the microphone used pertains to the hardware itself rather than the data representation, and the duration of the sound clip simply reflects how long the audio lasts, not how much information is encoded within that time. Thus, option C accurately identifies the essence of bit rate in the context of audio recording.