diff --git a/util/sample.h b/util/sample.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3fb1003
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/sample.h
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace trnr {
+class sample {
+public:
+    sample(int16_t initial_value = 0) {
+        set_value(initial_value);
+        instances.push_back(this); // track this instance
+    }
+
+    ~sample() {
+        // remove this instance from the tracking vector
+        auto it = std::find(instances.begin(), instances.end(), this);
+        if (it != instances.end()) {
+            instances.erase(it);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // set value while ensuring the global bit depth
+    void set_value(int16_t new_value) {
+        int16_t max_val = (1 << (global_bit_depth - 1)) - 1;  // Max value for signed bit depth
+        int16_t min_val = -(1 << (global_bit_depth - 1));     // Min value for signed bit depth
+
+        // Clamp the value to the allowed range
+        if (new_value > max_val) {
+            value = max_val;
+        } else if (new_value < min_val) {
+            value = min_val;
+        } else {
+            value = new_value;
+        }
+    }
+
+    int16_t get_value() const {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    static void set_global_bit_depth(int depth) {
+        if (depth < 1 || depth > 16) {
+            throw std::invalid_argument("Bit depth must be between 1 and 16.");
+        }
+
+        // rescale all existing values if the bit depth changes
+        float scaling_factor = get_scaling_factor(previous_bit_depth, global_bit_depth);
+
+        // Rescale all existing instances
+        for (auto* instance : instances) {
+            instance->value = std::round(instance->value * scaling_factor);
+        }
+
+        previous_bit_depth = global_bit_depth; // Store the old bit depth
+        global_bit_depth = depth; // Update the global bit depth
+    }
+    
+    static int get_global_bit_depth() {
+        return global_bit_depth;
+    }
+
+    // arithmetic operators (all respect global bit depth)
+    sample operator+(const sample& other) const {
+        return sample(this->value + other.value);
+    }
+
+    sample operator-(const sample& other) const {
+        return sample(this->value - other.value);
+    }
+
+    sample operator*(const sample& other) const {
+        return sample(this->value * other.value);
+    }
+
+    sample operator/(const sample& other) const {
+        if (other.value == 0) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("division by zero.");
+        }
+        return sample(this->value / other.value);
+    }
+
+    // Cast to int16_t for convenience
+    operator int16_t() const {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+private:
+    int16_t value;
+    static int global_bit_depth; // global bit depth
+    static int previous_bit_depth; // previous bit depth
+    static std::vector<sample*> instances; // track all instances for rescaling
+
+    // helper function to calculate the scaling factor
+    static float get_scaling_factor(int old_bit_depth, int new_bit_depth) {
+        if (old_bit_depth == new_bit_depth) {
+            return 1.0f; // No scaling needed
+        }
+        float old_max = (1 << (old_bit_depth - 1)) - 1;
+        float new_max = (1 << (new_bit_depth - 1)) - 1;
+        return new_max / old_max;
+    }
+};
+}
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