Method for sampling a continuous signal with a preferably constant sampling interval, wherein an original quantization characteristic is changed adaptively and section by section, and by value range limits for sampling values x (k), where k is a natural number, which are associated with code words b (j), where j = 1, 2,..., N and N is a natural number and indicates a position in the sampling sequence, are automatically defined, having the following process steps, a) according to the original quantization characteristic, the respective sampling values x (k) are associated with N code words b (j) as quantization levels with value range limits, wherein N-1 jumps are located between the N quantization levels, b) in which a total range of values for the sampling values x (k) is subdivided into N original value ranges (A1, A3), c) in which, each time, a code word b (j) is associated with the N original value ranges (A1, A3), d) in which, for R sampling values x (k0-R) to x (k0-1), at sampling times k0-R to k0-1 in a first sampling interval, the number of sampling values x (k) in an original value range (A1, A3) is determined, where R is a natural number, e) in which, depending on the determined number of sampling values x (k), an adaptation of the quantization resolution to the statistical distribution of the sampling values in the value ranges or in the code words is achieved, by inserting at least one jump in an original value range (A1, A3) or by removing one jump at at least one original value range limit, and f) in which the changed value range (A2, A5) is associated with a code word, as a result of which a changed quantization characteristic is generated for the subsequent second sampling interval with V+1 sampling values x to x (k0+V) at sampling times k0 to k0+V, where V is a natural number and k0+V designates a position. a) according to the original quantization characteristic, the respective sampling values x (k) are associated with N code words b (j) as quantization levels with value range limits, wherein N-1 jumps are located between the N quantization levels, b) in which a total range of values for the sampling values x (k) is subdivided into N original value ranges (A1, A3), c) in which, each time, a code word b (j) is associated with the N original value ranges (A1, A3), d) in which, for R sampling values x (k0-R) to x (k0-1), at sampling times k0-R to k0-1 in a first sampling interval, the number of sampling values x (k) in an original value range (A1, A3) is determined, where R is a natural number, e) in which, depending on the determined number of sampling values x (k), an adaptation of the quantization resolution to the statistical distribution of the sampling values in the value ranges or in the code words is achieved, by inserting at least one jump in an original value range (A1, A3) or by removing one jump at at least one original value range limit, and f) in which the changed value range (A2, A5) is associated with a code word, as a result of which a changed quantization characteristic is generated for the subsequent second sampling interval with V+1 sampling values x to x (k0+V) at sampling times k0 to k0+V, where V is a natural number and k0+V designates a position.