Analog Versus Digital
Recordings: The Main differences
The basic differences between analog and digital
recordings
An analog recording is one in which the original sound signal
is formulated onto another physical signal carried on (typically) the groove of a gramophone disc or the iron
filings of a magnetic tape. A physical quantity in the medium, or the intensity of the magnetic field, is directly
related, or analogous, to the physical properties of the sound, hence the term analog.
On the other hand, a digital recording is produced by converting the physical properties of the original sound into
digital information, transformed into individual bits. These bits can then be decoded for reproduction. The
downside of this method is that the conversion process can be susceptible to noise and imperfection. However, as
the individual bits can be recovered, the nature of the physical medium is immaterial in recovery of the encoded
information.
Both analog and digital systems are capable of yielding high-quality sound. However, digital systems have a
principal advantage over analog ones in its lower cost. High-quality open-reel analog tape and related hardware is
expensive to buy and maintain, while with digital systems, high quality sound output is achievable with very low
manufacturing cost and in mass-produced devices.
Why are analog systems so expensive? Analog systems require high-quality mechanical and electronic performance all
the way through the audio-chain - recording, production, and finally playback by the consumer. Digital systems, on
the other hand, are only dependent on the electronic performance of the equipment. Any noise or distortion
generated by the equipment is easier to reject since the signal information is conveyed as a digital (binary)
code.
Sound distortions like wow and flutter might be caused by the imperfections in the mechanical performance of the
analog equipment. For digital systems, time-instability can degrade system performance.
Application of error-correcting codes helps to prevent data loss and/or corruption after a signal has been
converted into a digital format, which allows digital formats to have a higher resistance to deterioration than
analog formats. However, it is possible for poorly produced digital media to result in data loss, one example being
laser rot, which was most troublesome to the Laserdisc format. There can also be difficulties related to the use of
consumer recordable/rewritable compact discs due to poor CD recordable drives and rewrites.
Digital copies and regenerations, unlike analog dubs, are exact clones. Unless DRM restrictions apply or mastering
errors occur, they can be made infinitely without degradation. Digital systems have the ability for the same medium
to be used with arbitrarily high or low quality. This encodes methods and number of channels or other content,
unlike mechanically pre-fixed speed and channels of practically all analog systems.
DORROUGH 280-A Analog Loudness Meter
Moog Little Phatty II Stage Edition Analog Synth! MINT
2 Technics SL-1200MK5 Analog DJ Turntables store Demos
Troisi 8-Channel 16-bit Analog to Digital Converter
NEW DENON DN-X900 Analog/Digital Mixer PROFESSIONAL RAC
NEW DENON DN-X900 Analog/Digital Mixer PROFESSIONAL RAC
Tascam MX2424 Recorder Analog Card DVD 256 Ram OS 3.12
KORG RADIAS-R VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTHESIZER RACK NEW
*** Trident S100 Analog 8 Channel Rack-mount Mixer ***
Digidesign 192 I/O Analog Interface
Dorrough 380A Analog Loudness Meter
neotek series 1 analog 16 channel mixing board console
Mytek Stereo 192 Series ADC Analog to Digital Converter
DENON DNX900 DN-X900 PROFESSIONAL ANALOG DIGITAL MIXER
Digidesign 192 AD A/D Card Analog Input Expansion Card
TASCAM MSR-16 1/2" sixteen track Analog Recorder
WOHLER AMP1A-SUM6 Analog Audio Monitor Panel
NEW BEHRINGER SX2442FX 4 BUS ANALOG LIVE/STUDIO MIXER
NEW BEHRINGER XENYX XL1600 ANALOG 16 INPUT 4 BUS MIXER
With many of the newer consoles, you get the best of both world with digital control and analog summing, for
warm, punchy sounding recordings.
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