Digital Recording

A process by which numeric representatives of anaolog signals (in the ofmr of voltage levels) are encoded, processed, stored and reporduced overtime using the binary system

Analog to digital conversion

Sampling (measuring) the instantaneous voltage level of an analog signal at very precise intervals over time and then converts these samples into a series of encoded “words” whoch digitally represents the analogous voltage levels at the time interval

Digital audio systems work by

Storing discrete levels of amplitude

Digital recording =

The component of time 

Sampling

taking digtial periodic samples of an analog audio waveform over time and then calculates each of the snapshot samples into grouped binary words that digitally represent these voltage levels. 

Digital recording opperates by

Bandwidth (Frequency Range)

Sample rate effects

1 Sample every 1/44100 of a second or 44100 samples per seconf

44.1kHZ =

CD delivery

16 bit is most common for

96.33 dB

16 bit has a dynamic range of

65536 steps per sample

16 bit contains

Digital delivery

24 bit is most common for

144.49 dB

24 bit has a dynamic range of

16,777, 216 steps per sample

24 bit contains

The signal level component

Quantization

translate voltage levels of a continuous analog signal into binary digits (bits)

Quantization is used to

the converter determines the exact voltage level of the signal

By sampling the amplitude of an analog signal at precise intervals over time

volume

resolution

stereo image

Quantization effects

Says that for the desired frequency to be faithfully encoded, the selected sample rate must be at least twice as high as the highest frequency recorded 

Nyquist theroem

~ 22500 hz of Badnwith

44.1kHZ =

~ 24000 hz of Bandwidth

48kHZ =

Difference between the actual analog signal and the sampled signal

Quantization error

Dither

A process used during the overall recording or conversion process to increase the overall bit resolution (and therfore low-level noise and signal clarity) of a recorded signal when converting from a higher to a lower bit rate

is added to mask artifacts at every stage of recording and mixing

Normal dither

Used at end stage of mixing or mastrering if the bit depth must be reduced from higher to lower resolution (24 to 16)

Noise shape dither