Analog to digital converters play an important role in the signal path. A/D Conversion is the process of recording sound into digital audio files.
- If you are - building your own recording studio
- If you are - trying to improve the quality of your mixes
The following section will help any individual develop a solid understanding of the analog to digital conversion, and its significance on the quality of your audio production.
So how does an audio signal transform into a music recording that is stored onto a digital medium!?
Alright, what I meant was… What exactly is Analog to Digital conversion please?
*Quantizing is used in different functions of the recording and production process. Each binary number, (1’s and 0’s) is called a bit.
In essence, A/D conversion is the process of turning audio samples into its digital replacement, digital audio. These music files stored onto a digital medium. (Hard-disc, mini-disc, compact disc)
Digital audio is the most flexible method of manipulating and storing musical recordings. The sound file is a digital format that contains the sound and musical data for a track. A song file holds all the musical information and recordings in a song-project.
Audio files can be compressed using a number of formats. Compression is used to reduce the size of each digital audio file, making it easier to store. Mp3 is a popular compressed file format that you may be familiar with. Reducing the size of audio files inevitably results in a loss of sound quality. The differences heard by the listener are subjective to the production experience and ear of the individual. Many people will not be able to tell the difference between an mp3 and a CD quality Wav file.
The obvious advantages of compressed audio files are size, transfer speed, and reduced CPU consumption. During music production, audio files are most often left uncompressed. The original audio file offers more dynamic range and clarity in each track of a musical production. A/D Converters can be bought as integrated or standalone units. They are commonly built into a number of audio interfaces and digital devices. (I.E. Processors, Preamps, Digital Mixers, etc.) Conversion rates, number of inputs, and build quality all affect the price of A/D Converters. Music software and advances in recording technology has blended the warmth/dynamics of analog recording, with digital music’s creative flexibility. Like all pro audio equipment, A/D converters range in quality and capability.
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