Diff between analog and digital

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The Quiet Minded
Member Since: Jan 01, 2003

What is the diffeence between analog and digital inputs?

Like in the case of a Delta 66.

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Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Mar 01, 2004 12:36 am

in the case of the delta 66, there are 4 analog inputs. These inputs accept a sound signal from a cable, much like an amp would accept a signal through a cable from a guitar. As I understand it, the two digital inputs on the delta 66 accept digital data which is then interpreted as audio. The main difference in results, is that once sound signals have been transfered to digital, they are not altered by transmitting them. That is because you are transferring digital information.

Oh, once an alalog signal is inputted into the Delta soundcards, they convert the audio signal into a digital format through their A/D converters (audio/digital converters). Does all that make sense?

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 01, 2004 02:41 pm

Analog is a direct "real time" representation of sound signal. Sound vibration, either through the air, or through the body of an instrument is constantly monitored by a device which transduces vibration to electrical variations, e.g. microphone or pick up. This is the first step in all recording except where synthetic samples are digital to begin with. Digitizing the analog signal is the next step. A signal becomes digital when an A to D converter samples the constant analog signal. Each sample represents amplitude and frequency of the sampled signal. A digital recording on a CD which has a sample rate of 44.1 KHZ is sampled 44,100 times per second. To play back a digital signal the process has to be reversed. A D to A converter is used to recreate the analog signal from the samples and a transducer e.g. speaker transduces the electrical analog signal to air movement. I theory analog could be a better signal as it is continuous. The problem comes in the recording media. Magnetic tapes and or etched vinal loose a lot of sound quality during imprinting. The other downfall to analog is in the distortion imparted by electronic equipment used for conditioning. e.g. effects, dynamic controls, amplifiers, etc. Per resluts of the media and conditioning equipment, digital ends up to be much higher recorded quality even with all of the stages involved in the process.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 03, 2004 09:49 pm

I gotta go find the article I read a few months ago on the differance between vinyl and CD.

It stated, (and this is scientific testing they used to determine this) that vinyl has a much broader spectrum and because of the depth of the grooves on the vinyl can convey way more information then the simple 1's and 0's of the digital world. Digital simply cannot duplicate the depth of the vinyl.

Now that said, remember I am the guy who swears by my digital recording software. But that is the reason they give as to why analog or vinyl sounds so much warmer is because of the depth.

But they do go on to state that for most normal people there is really no differance. And the fact is that unless you like myself and spend $250.00 on a cartridge for a $500.00 turntable then you wont know the differance. And also the vinyl must be pristene, meaning clean as if it were new.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Mar 04, 2004 12:44 am

I think these days digital sounds as good as if not better than vinyl, but if you compare remasters to CD of vinyl from the 60's & 70's and even into the 80's to a lesser extent the vinyl sounds much better IMO (Beatles remasters to CD are an excellent example). Of course with todays music you really don't have any way to compare so whose to say, though I doubt you could put as hot of mixes on vinyl as they do on CD :)

One thing is for sure though CD's last much longer, are more convienient, and you don't have to worry about bumping the stylus <G>

Dan

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 04, 2004 09:32 am

That is interesting Noise. I would like to do the study myself. I would also like to see or better yet determine the "assumption" list. The whole debate is increadably convoluted. You start out with air moving in the case of a singer. It is transduced to an analog waveform via mic...add distortion. Now it is pre-amped.. add distortion. Now it is amped...add distortion. Ok is this the "reference signal"? at this point. Modify the signal per effects; pre or post digitizing? And which will be the "standard". Now we finally get it to imprinting to a media. Analog imprints twice. Once to tape then cut to vinal.

So which process or drivitive of processes is the most descreate? Does it matter? By all means no loss analog impriting is theoreticaly better. Such a process does not exist. It's all wonderfull acedemics for the lost in space prof. but does anybody care?

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Mar 04, 2004 12:56 pm

The greatest thing about digital, in my opinion, is that it never loses quality. So even if an analog recording sounds a bit better new, over time it will degrade and you'll be in a hopeless battle against time, trying to make new copies over and over again, none of which are as good as the brand new original... With digital, you don't lose quality with copies, so even if your medium dies over time, as long as you have a backup the quality will always stay top notch :) Of course, you could just backup your analog to digital... but then you're going through even more conversions! Wow... what a mess ;)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2004 09:11 pm

Yup, that is the part I hate. Loosing the sound when going from vinyl to CD. I dont fully understand how they came to that conclusion but I guess they must have done some major research.

I still will use CD as my main form of listening media, since as Porp refered to it you loose some of that depth of the vinyl every time you spin it. But hey, I am no audio purist so I dont have any probelms converting to CD from vinyl. I even get paid to remaster and convert vinyl to digital so I am all for it as it does preserve your collection for at least my life time.

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