Sound recording and reproduction methods
-
Electrical or mechanical inscription and recreation of sound waves.
Analog
In recording, a small microphone diaphragm that can detect changes in atmospheric pressure (acoustic sound waves) and record them as a graphic representation of the sound waves on a medium such as a phonograph. Analog sound reproduction is the reverse process, with a bigger loudspeaker diaphragm causing changes to atmospheric pressure to form acoustic sound waves
Digital
Stores audio as a series of binary numbers representing samples of the amplitude of the audio signal at equal time intervals, at a sample rate so fast that the human ear perceives the result as continuous sound. A digital audio signal must be reconverted to analog form during playback before it is applied to a loudspeaker or earphones.