In analog to digital conversion, the PCM process samples the analog voice signal _____ times per second.

The correct answer is based on the fundamental principles of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) in digital signal processing. In PCM, the analog voice signal is sampled at a rate that allows for accurate representation of the original waveform. The standard sampling rate for telecommunication applications specifically for voice signals is 64,000 samples per second.

This rate is derived from the Nyquist theorem, which states that to accurately digitize a signal, it must be sampled at least twice the highest frequency present in the signal. For standard voice signals, the bandwidth is typically around 3,200 Hz, and when using a pulse code modulation system, it is common to oversample to ensure robustness and clarity, leading to the standard of 64 kbps (kilobits per second) as a PCM encoding rate.

Thus, the PCM process, when sampling the analog voice signal, indeed operates at 64,000 times per second, allowing it to capture and reproduce voice accurately for transmission in digital form.