Chapter 8

Digital audio principles

This chapter contains an introduction to the main principles of digital audio, described in a relatively non-mathematical way. Further reading recommendations at the end of this chapter are given for those who want to study the subject in more depth. Subsequent chapters deal with digital recording and editing systems and with digital audio applications.

Digital and analogue recording contrasted

In analogue recording, as described in the previous chapters, sound is recorded by converting continuous variations in sound pressure into continuous variations in electrical voltage, using a microphone. This varying voltage is then converted into a varying pattern of magnetisation on a tape, or, alternatively, into ...

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