A Guide to Digital Recording

By Ayush Patel

The digital audio saga began in 1938, when British scientist Alec Reeves patented PCM, or "pulse-code modulation." PCM is the technology whereby the characteristics of an acoustic sound made by a voice or instrument that moves air (called "analog") is captured by a microphone or other magnetic device (like an electronic pickup used on electric guitars) and converted by a device or software called an "interface," into computer or "binary" code, the language of computers, a series of ones and twos. Computers can translate this code back into sound played on included or attached computer speakers or headphones, and recorded. The word "pulse" is used, because the computer code made from the analog sound transmits to the computer in bunches, according to the speed, timing, and volume of the sound...

To read the full article, click 'subscribe' below!

Image