Recording Method

DIGITAL
Digital recording is based on binary. A series of 0s and 1s that give yes and
no/on and off answers to processes. This can be done in 2 different ways:
Through MIDI and sampling, or through an Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC).

ADC & DAC

An Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) takes snapshots of soundwaves through
a recording device (mic, amp etc.) and converts the sound into binary which can
later be expressed as sound by a digital media player (phone, MP3, computer,
cd).

AD
101110011101100

When copying
C digital to
and vice versa with a DAC digital, the
quality remains
the same
101110011010001 because data
DAC (binary) doesn’t

SAMPLE SPEEDS
The faster the sample speed is, the better the recording quality will be (within
the boundaries of you technology). It can also be called the sample rate of
sample frequency.

The bit depth/resolution is the capacity your recording or converting

device/program has for samples (snapshots).

A slow sample rate or small bit depth will skip samples, making a soundwave
that should look like this:
HIFI = High
Fidelity
(Loyal to the
source of the
Look like this:
Dynamic Range = The
space between the
highest and lowest
pitch.

The standard bit depth today is 16bits/44,100Hz/44.1kHz. This is CD quality.

Pro Tools (international studio standard program) records at 32bits.

ANALOGUE
Analogue recording is based on mechanics. A tape recorder will take soundwaves
and imprint microscopic metal fillings onto tape using electromagnetic currents.
Analogue records at 8bits.

When copying analogue to

analogue, the recording
loses quality.

Hiss is a noise flaw found on

Wires that
transfer
tape which disables you from
Vibrations. recording the full dynamic
range.
Paper or synthetic material
That picks up vibrations

DIGITAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS

0 and 1 are bits (binary digits), the smallest digital unit.

1 byte = 8bits
Kilobyte (KB) = 1 000bytes
Megabyte (MB) = 1 000 000bytes
Gigabyte (GB) = 1 000 000 000bytes
Terrabyte (TB) = 1 000 000 000 000bytes