A representation of an object that resembles the original. Analog devices monitor conditions, such as movement, temperature and sound, and convert them into analogous electronic or mechanical patterns. For example, an analog watch represents the planet's rotation with the rotating hands on the watch face. Telephones turn voice vibrations into electrical vibrations of the same shape. Analog implies a continuous signal in contrast with digital, which breaks everything into numbers. Video cameras scan their viewing area a line at a time and convert the infinitely varying intensities of red, green and blue (RGB) light into analogous electrical signals. See sampling.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Analog Recording
Audio and video transmission has been analog since the beginning of radio and TV and the first magnetic recording. While the industry is increasingly digital, analog is still widely used in both commercial and home environments (audio cassettes, VHS tapes, commercial video, radio and TV broadcasting).
The ability to capture the subtle nature of the real world is the single advantage of analog techniques. It takes ever increasing digital capacities and bandwidth to match the granularity of analog systems.
Digital Means Perfect Replication
Once recorded, analog equipment, no matter how modern, cannot copy signals perfectly. Third and fourth generations of analog audio and video recordings show marked deterioration.
By recording in digital from the beginning, or by converting from analog to digital at an early stage, audio and video data can be preserved indefinitely and copied over and over without deterioration. This fact has caused publishers of digital media much anguish (see copyright, DRM and peer-to-peer network) and has always been a problem for software publishers since the first computer programs were made available for sale.
Analog Concepts
There are many analog systems. Watch hands are analogous to the earth's rotation. Analog telephones turn air waves into analogous electrical waves.
Analog Radio
In traditional radio, the original sound waves are maintained as analogous electrical waves throughout the entire chain from recording microphone to the listener's speakers. The analog waves are transmitted over the air in the radio station's channel frequency, which is called a "carrier." The carrier is altered (modulated) to contain the analog waves as if wrapped within conceptually.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Analog Recording
Audio and video transmission has been analog since the beginning of radio and TV and the first magnetic recording. While the industry is increasingly digital, analog is still widely used in both commercial and home environments (audio cassettes, VHS tapes, commercial video, radio and TV broadcasting).
The ability to capture the subtle nature of the real world is the single advantage of analog techniques. It takes ever increasing digital capacities and bandwidth to match the granularity of analog systems.
Digital Means Perfect Replication
Once recorded, analog equipment, no matter how modern, cannot copy signals perfectly. Third and fourth generations of analog audio and video recordings show marked deterioration.
By recording in digital from the beginning, or by converting from analog to digital at an early stage, audio and video data can be preserved indefinitely and copied over and over without deterioration. This fact has caused publishers of digital media much anguish (see copyright, DRM and peer-to-peer network) and has always been a problem for software publishers since the first computer programs were made available for sale.
Analog Concepts
There are many analog systems. Watch hands are analogous to the earth's rotation. Analog telephones turn air waves into analogous electrical waves.
Analog Radio
In traditional radio, the original sound waves are maintained as analogous electrical waves throughout the entire chain from recording microphone to the listener's speakers. The analog waves are transmitted over the air in the radio station's channel frequency, which is called a "carrier." The carrier is altered (modulated) to contain the analog waves as if wrapped within conceptually.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Creative Media Toolbox 6.02.09 (Windows)
- Creative Media Toolbox is designed for all music consumers, the Creative Media Toolbox 6 is an essential suite of software applications that will make converting, enhancing and organizing your digital music a breeze.It will help you record analog music, remove the hisses and pops, separate your music into individual tracks...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Fox CD Extractor 1.4 (Windows)
- FoxCD Extractor is a program designed to perform many tasks audio related. It deals essentially with ripping and converting audio files which is to say you can turn your music collection piled up into a mountain of CDs into an MP3 collection easily available on your hard drive at high...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Blue Iris 2.32 (Windows)
- Video Capture. Use up to 25 cameras (Webcams, camcorders, network IP cams, analog cards, or your PC desktop). Capture JPEG snapshots or capture movies in standard AVI, advanced DVR, or leading-edge Windows Media file formats. Video Security. Keep an eye on your home, place of business, cars, and valuables; watch...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- Zvox Z-Base 575
- Photo gallery:Zvox Z-Base 575Sound bars feel like they've been around forever now, but they're still a relatively new product; consider that the groundbreaking Yamaha YSP-1 debuted back at CES 2005. Since then, the exterior design of the units hasn't changed much, with the vast majority still consisting of a long...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Boston Acoustics Duo-i plus
- Editors' note: The Boston Acoustics Duo-i Plus is nearly identical to the Horizon Duo-i we reviewed a year ago. Not a lot has changed since then aside from the addition of full support for iPhone playback. While the Horizon Duo-i worked with the iPhone, the device had...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Animated SnowFlakes Screensaver 2.6 (Windows)
- This 3D snowflakes screen-saver will bring peace and quite of a winter forest to your desktop. 3D snowflakes slowly coming down in mysterious and snowy forest. Watch the wonderful landscapes of a winter forest. There are 5 different background modes: forest images, desktop, wallpaper, blank screen or your individual images....
- Software downloads 2009-11-12
- NBA Live 10.1.18 (Mobile)
- With real NBA rosters, you can dominate the game as Dwight Howard and other NBA ALL-Stars. Or unlock legends from favorite NBA teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Sixers, and more. Match up all 30 NBA teams in the new 82-game Season Mode. Play a casual game in Exhibition Mode, or...
- Software downloads 2009-11-12
- Zvox Z-Base 525
- Photo gallery:Zvox Z-Base 525Surround sound and its accouterments tend to dominate a living room, requiring an AV receiver, several speakers, stands, and wires to make the whole thing work. That's why many people choose to skip surround sound, opting instead for the tinny acoustics of their TV speakers. Single-speaker solutions...
- Product reviews 2009-11-11
- Moxi introduces three-tuner HD DVR, reduces prices on dual-tuner version
- User Interface!I think what most companies competing with Tivo don't understand is that it is the interface experience that makes Tivo who they are in today's market place. You can also download digital media from Blockbuster,Amazon, Netflix, etc.. on the Tivo as well. You can also browse from any Tivo...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-11
- Electronics giants collect more than 3 million pounds of old TVs
- A tech recycling venture between Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba has collected more than 3 million pounds of old analog TVs. by Heather Clancy
- Blog posts 2009-11-10
- Joystick and Gamepad Tester 4.0 (Mac)
- You want to test your digital and analog USB game devices? You want to test all buttons and sticks? You want to check the minimum, default and maximum values returned? Then Joystick And Gamepad Tester is what you need! Joystick And Gamepad Tester allows you to test your digital...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- Numerology 2.2 (Mac)
- Numerology is a modular sequencing environment designed for performing musicians. It works by giving the user an organized workspace within which they can quickly create and connect together a variety of highly functional sequencing and MIDI event generating modules. As a fully modular environment, the user can construct sequencing instruments...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- TimeDisc 0.4.2 (Mac)
- TimeDisc is an analog clock that uses colored segments instead of hands. user selectable colors variable size and appearance put it on desktop level or above everything else make it click-through so it doesn't get in the way display seconds in one of two user selectable styles hide dock...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- VelaClock Deluxe 2.2.1 (Mac)
- VelaClock Deluxe is a world clock widget with a highly configurable user interface. Users can quickly display the time of sunrise, sunset, or twilight, duration of daylight, moonrise, moonset, phase of moon, time zone information and more. VelaClock Deluxe has all the features of the standard version, plus: Add...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- VelaClock 2.2.1 (Mac)
- VelaClock is a world clock widget with a highly configurable user interface. Besides displaying local times, users can quickly display the time of sunrise, sunset, or twilight, duration of daylight, current phase of moon, time zone information and much more. The interface can easily be configured to use a minimum...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- Guitar FX BOX 2.8 (Windows)
- Guitar FX BOX is acting just like a good collection of analog effect pedals. Just plug your guitar into the sound card input and your guitar will sing and scream. You can apply a wide range of high quality effects to guitar, voice, and other inputs real-time - I/O delay...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- SmartTime (Mobile)
- is an advanced time tool for Windows Mobile based Smartphones. Its Touch friendly and designed for finger taps. Features:Analog and Digital Clocks.Multiple World Clocks.Multiple Alarms.Multiple Timers with Presets.Multiple Stopwatches.Event Tracker Past and Future.Calculator Simple and Advanced.Meeting Planner.More than 1000+ Cities.
- Software downloads 2009-11-08
- Dell Inspiron i545s-1476N
- The $480 Inspiron 545s-1476 is the third Dell desktop we've reviewed with the company's current slim tower chassis, and we can't say our opinion has changed since the last time we saw it. We're still satisfied with its design, but we remain disappointed with the features Dell seems to have...
- Product reviews 2009-11-06
- YourOtherMind 8.2.3.5 (Windows)
- YourOtherMind is an idea management tool for writers, helping to store and tag ideas or research, track submissions, brainstorm, and it is also a word processor with formatting, spellchecking, and full-screen mode. You can do it all in YourOtherMind, but the most important part of the process is the writing....
- Software downloads 2009-11-06
- Fountain Pen Free for iPhone 1.1 (Mobile)
- With Fountain Pen Free for iPhone enjoy your analog life in digitalized world. Send Mail to your sweet heart with Old-fashioned way. Write elegant memo with the Fountain Pen Free for iPhone. Draw charming picture with the Fountain Pen Free for iPhone. It features you can draw memo and picture...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
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