Analog
Traditional audio devices are analog, because they handle sound waves in an analogous form. For example, radios maintain the audio signal as rippling waves from antenna to speaker. Tape cassette players record sound waves as magnetic waves. In the days of the phonograph record, sound waves were literally "carved" into the plastic platters.
Digital
In the computer, audio is processed by converting the analog signal into a digital code using PCM. See A/D converter, PCM and sampling.
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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