digital vs. analog Archives - Page 2 of 2

What is bit?

Free Download Mp4Gain

What is bit?

bit is an abbreviation for binary digits.

16 bits and 24 bits in catalogs, etc. represent the number of binary digits * handled by computers, etc.

In digital audio, analog sound is converted to a digital signal,
but the number of bits determines how precisely the amplitude value is converted when it is converted to a binary number (quantization) after sampling.
In the case of 1 bit, only 1 or 0 can be judged, but in 8 bit (10001001), 2 raised to the eighth power, that is, 256 steps can be judged in detail.

Currently, the 16-bit mainstream has 65,536 steps and the 24-bit mainstream has 16,777,216 steps.
Now,
there is a part that does not match the actual waveform (analog waveform) and the quantized and sampled digital waveform. This is called quantization noise.
This noise is especially noticeable when the number of bits is small.

So simply increasing the F’s and the number of bits will improve the sound (closer to the original sound)
, but it will consume a lot of memory. Also, in the case of digital recording, it is
very important to manage the input level to bring out the high quality of the sound.
If the recording level is too low, you won’t be able to bring out its goodness.

It is important to configure it so that it is not clipping at the maximum level of the music to be recorded,
but try to increase the overall average level as much as possible to have a wider dynamic range
(recordable high and low level difference) than analog. Make the most of it and record with a good signal-to-noise (SN) ratio.

* The decimal numbers that we usually use are represented by a combination of 10 types of numbers from 0 to 9, but in
binary numbers, are represented by a combination of 0 and 1.

For example, in a 4-digit binary number,

Decimal number 0 1 2 3 Four ・・・・ 14 15
Binary number 0 1 Ten 11 100 ・・・ 1110 1111
You can express a number from 0 to 15 as.

(5) What is timing?

It is a state in which each device moves in harmony with each other at the same time in the system.

Digital devices use a reference signal called a word clock, and
Each device can be synchronized with a high precision that cannot be compared with analog devices.

For the configuration of each device, the device that supplies the reference word clock is set as the word clock master, and
all other devices are configured as
word clock slaves so that they can operate synchronously in response to the instruction of a unit set by this master increases.

The role of the word clock is similar to that of the conveyor belt used on factory assembly lines.

The digitized audio data is divided into small times, it is
transmitted to each device, processed and finally returned to an analog audio signal by the DA converter.
What happens if the speed of the conveyor belt changes along the way?
The data will be lost or the time will not match.

If there are devices in the system that are not synced
, problems such as loss of sound and noise mixing will occur due to the same cause.

Regarding synchronization, if each device is precisely configured and word clock transmission between each device is guaranteed,
can achieve high-performance and comfortable operation unique to digital technology.

(6) Digital recording medium

CD compact disc. Introduced in 1982.
Bonus CD A CD that can also play back photos and pictures.
CD-R A CD that can only be burned once.
CD-RW A CD that can be recorded many times.
DAT Digital audio tape. Record and play back on magnetic tape.
Maryland Mini disco. Introduced in 1991.
MP3 Achieve CD-quality sound quality on the Internet, personal computers, etc.
SACD Super Audio CD. Higher sound quality than current CD.
DVD Audio You can play videos and music.

Free Download Mp4Gain

Mp4Gain Main Window

Mp4Gain Features

Free Download Mp4Gain

Difference between digital and analog

Difference between digital and analog

The sound is analog. And sound is the vibration of the air. How is this sound vibration transmitted?

For example, when a stone is thrown into a calm water surface, the ripples spread around it, but if
Cut in the direction of the waves and look at the cut end, the waveform is as shown in Fig.1.

Air waves spread from the point where sound is emitted even in air. Although invisible to the eye, it has a
similar waveform. This is the analog waveform of sound.

Therefore, although it is digital, when such a sound waveform is recorded or communicated by phone or wireless, as
shown in Fig. 2, the change in the analog waveform is electrically replaced with a series of numerical values according to a certain promise. ..

When recording or communicating, if you handle it as analog, it is easy for noise to enter and the sound quality to deteriorate, but when trying
the waveform of the sound as digital = numerical data, you can eliminate that worry and
maintain a certain quality. You can do various processing while maintaining it.

(2) What is convenient when it is digital

Digital audio signals are convenient because they can be recorded and edited using a personal computer, for example.

In addition, 74 minutes of music can be recorded on a CD with a diameter of only 12 cm, and through digital compression processing
, music of the same length can be recorded on an MD with a smaller diameter.

Since digital signals can be compressed in this way, it is also convenient for storing large amounts of information.
Not only sound, but also video signals with a higher amount of information can be recorded and communicated at high speed through the use of compression technology.

Especially in communication, a two-way digital multiplex communication can be realized communicating multiple pieces of information with a single wire.
In addition to electrical signals, laser light can also be used for optical communication, making communication possible at extremely high speeds.

(3) What is the sampling frequency?

Digital signals are processed at predetermined fixed time intervals.
The sample rate (sample rate) indicates how many times a second is processed and is expressed as Fs or fs.

The sampling frequency unit is Hz (Hertz), and the
44.1 kHz (kilohertz) sampling rate means 44,100 pieces of data are processed per second.
(K represents 1000 times)

AD conversion converts a continuous analog signal into a digital signal,
measures the size of the signal at each moment determined by the sampling frequency (sampling) and converts
the result in a binary number (quantization).

On the other hand, DA conversion converts a digital signal into an analog signal,
It reads the digital signal in the sample rate time interval and connects it smoothly.

Since digital signals can be reproduced up to half the sampling frequency, how much
The higher the sample rate, the higher the playable frequency and the better the sound quality.
In familiar areas, 44.1 kHz is used for CD, and 48 kHz is used for DAT and B modes of satellite transmission.

In addition, recent professional equipment uses high sampling frequencies (high sampling), such as 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz,
and are designed to faithfully reproduce even higher frequency sounds to improve sound quality.

Is it true that vinyl record players have better sound quality? (Part 2)

Is it true that vinyl record players have better sound quality? (Part 2)

Vynil vs digital

Note 2: This is why you can immediately dismiss anyone who nonchalantly says “analog is better” on the grounds that digital music somehow has “gaps” or less information than analog signal: output from a properly designed digital music player. analog signal, and this signal is a complete and accurate version of the original signal (within the frequencies specified by Nyquist).

Analogue vs Digital

It is mathematical. Also note that almost every new record coming out on vinyl today (i.e., the hipster-preferred LP version of a new Decembrists set) went through many stages of recording and digital processing before getting into those vinyl beats. .

Note 3: I’m limiting my discussion here to CDs and I’m not trying to cover both the bottom of digital audio (i.e. low-bandwidth MP3) and the top (high-definition formats like SACD) that reduced rates of distribution. In fact, bad MP3s will have artifacts and sound worse than recordings; the higher formats are mostly gold, but at least as good as the CD technology I’m focusing on. High-performance MP3 (320kbps and above) and lossless digital formats have been shown to be indistinguishable from CD originals in double-blind studies, and therefore the discussion here applies to these cases as well.

Note 4: Many of the early CDs also had a number of other sins, including sources using the wrong types of master tapes (for example, 3rd and 4th generation dubbing masters optimized for cassette production) and mastering with very old equipment that does a poor job. digitization. These deficiencies, often described in terms of “hard”, “grainy” or “metallic” sound as opposed to the “warm” or “soft” sound of discs, were mostly corrected during the first 2 years of CD production. , but they damaged the reputation of the CD itself. carrier among many audiophiles, in some cases forever.

Note 5: There is an additional possibility that the recording player (the signal chain of the stylus, the cartridge and the audio pre-amplifier) can change the sound in a pleasant way. This is an ironic possibility as the stated purpose of audiophile playback is to avoid any possibility of distortion or coloration of the original sound, but this may explain part of the preference for analog. Of course, to the extent that artists want their music to sound a certain way, they can align or colorize their work to make it sound the same on a CD.

Note 6: Of course, you can have an active and focused listening experience regardless of the media. This is why double-blind studies (where, by definition, listeners are fully engaged and unaffected by psychological biases) tend to disprove theories that analog formats are inherently better than digital.

Is it true that vinyl record players have better sound quality? (Part 1)

Is it true that vinyl record players have better sound quality? (Part 1)

Vinyl vs. Digital

The short answer is no.

Vinyl vs Digital

Human hearing ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (Note 1); The sample rate of CDs is sufficient to fully capture audio in this range; Digital sampling allows you to fully restore the original analog signal with correct decoding (according to the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem) (Note 2); The dynamic range (the difference between high and low sounds) is greater than that of a record.

Thus, CDs can perfectly capture and restore sound beyond recording capabilities.

In other words, if an LP recording and a CD are created from the same primary source with no differences in configuration, and each is played on properly designed equipment, the CD will provide at least the same accurate representation of the original. as LP (and will be immune to transmitted mechanical noise, surface noise, and wear that can affect LP sound).

I mentioned earlier that CDs can handle a wide dynamic range; that’s true, but bigger isn’t always better in this case. The early CD engineers were determined to take advantage of this entire range. In this way, we ended up with recordings whose quiet parts could only be heard when listening carefully with the volume turned on in a very quiet room, while loud sounds, more than 90 decibels above the audible baseline, would damage your hearing and their relationships. These recordings are suitable for audiophile demonstrations, but are mostly useless in “normal” listening environments, such as cars or personal devices.

Over time, the trend in digital mastering has shifted towards lower and lower dynamic range and higher and higher average signal levels (a phenomenon known as loudness warfare). This also results in poor recordings, as some dynamic range is required to maintain the impact and realism of the music.

Interestingly, the dynamic range capability of analog LP recording (between 50-65dB depending on various factors chosen by the mastering engineer) seems to have chosen a good enough dynamics to be enjoyable, but not so dynamic as to require control constant volume. listen comfortably. Also, over the years, LP mastering trends have been much less volatile and more consistent. (Note 5).

As a result, the recordings on many CDs (for one reason or another) are worse than their records. But keep in mind that this is not a feature of technology, but rather a way to use (and abuse) it.

But there is another factor here. Digital music CDs or MP3s optimized for mobile use. Most of us listen to digital music on the go, through cheap headphones at the gym, or through our car stereo on a noisy highway, while traffic or other distractions compete for our attention. Playing a recording, on the other hand, requires much more dedication and concentration. By definition, you are in a place (where the player is). You actively select and initiate the experience, don’t “let it get mixed up.” You are most likely using the best equipment you own or have access to to listen to, and you are more likely to be distracted. You have a big sleeve with a cool pattern. Is to miss you?

In the end though, you can grab that same LP, use it to master a CD, clap, click and all, play it on a decent CD player through the same stereo, sit back and listen and get that. the same is audible. (Note 6). And if you sit down with a very well recorded and mastered CD and listen carefully, you will discover details and subtleties that can easily be lost on a worn, dirty or scratched LP.

But I don’t favor anyone’s preferences; This is what music is all about, and if the vinyl brings you closer to it, you will get more energy.

Note 1: LPs can contain signals with a frequency higher than 20 HKz; some recordings contain content up to 35 kHz. Most adults cannot hear at nearly 20 kHz, however some audiophiles agree with theories that these “supersonic” can be detected in other ways and / or may subtly interact with audible sounds to alter the nature of the feeling. Neither of these theories have been tested in double-blind studies.

Analog vs. Digital: Does vinyl sound better?

Music stored on vinyl is making a big comeback. The question of whether CDs, files, or music saved on vinyl sound “better” divides music fans. Sometimes the feeling arises that the toughest commentary battles on the web take place not between political camps, but between listeners of analog and digital music.

Analogversus Digital

It’s a shame, because almost everyone involved in these battles, which were fought with incredible vehemence, are united by their love of music. They belong to the minority of those who spend a lot of money on music, regardless of the medium they prefer. This battle is completely unnecessary and is mainly based on a misunderstanding or two different interpretations of what “good sound” means.

Analog vs Digital

“Good sound”: one expression, two meanings

Some say that something “sounds good” when the sound suits them. That is the musician’s point of view. A good example of this is the sound of a distorted electric guitar, a constituent element of rock music. It originated from the fact that a guitar amp was so loud that the actual sound of the guitar was destroyed beyond recognition by the overdriven amp. The result no longer sounds like a guitar, but the sound has been and continues to be liked by millions of people because it just “sounds good.”

Distorted but pleasing to the ears: the sound of a classic rock guitar.

Others use the term “good sound” as a synonym for “high fidelity,” meaning the most realistic reproduction of what the sound engineer heard when mixing a recording in the studio. This is what we call “high fidelity”.
By this definition, “good sound” means, at best, that the playback chain does not sound at all and that the sound changes as little as possible on its way from recording to playback. It’s called “High Fidelity”, not “Perfect Fidelity” because there can only be an approximation of the original sound.
And it is precisely this point that is the axis of the whole discussion. Logs were never a particularly good medium for hi-fi, but for decades they were the best medium that end users had access to. Until the CD arrived.

In terms of measurement technology, the record falls short
If one compares the CD and the disc under the criteria of “high fidelity”, the disc not only drops the straw, but is completely outperformed by the CD in terms of all the relevant criteria. Here are some examples.
Dynamic is the difference between the softest and loudest sound of a piece of music. While all digital media, including MP3, easily go up to 90 dB and can therefore even map the dynamic range of a large symphony orchestra, in practice the record barely achieves more than 40 dB. Enough for pop music, but even a well-received little jazz band like the one in our sound sample becomes a problem for the record. In quiet places, typical vinyl noise would be clearly audible.

Speaking of background noise: Typical vinyl noise, low-frequency rumble, and creaking caused by dust grains in the groove are also noticeable because they occur unevenly. The noise from a compact cassette is more constant, so the brain can filter it better. Digital recordings are virtually noise-free.
To present the purest music possible, all frequencies in the audible spectrum between 20 Hz and 20 kilohertz should be played at the same volume. With digital media, the frequency responses appear to have been drawn with a ruler. As a general rule of thumb, registers can linearly reproduce frequencies up to a maximum of 12 kilohertz and this only applies to the outermost slots at the beginning of a page. Due to the slowing down of the path speed towards the end of the groove, the highest transmission frequency drops more and more during the playing time of a disc, which, by the way, can be heard clearly. For the lower end of the spectrum, the deeper and louder the bass, the more space it needs in the groove, shortening the possible playing time. With LPs, you always have to find a compromise between bass level and playing time.

An important measure of the fidelity of a reproduction medium to sound is the distortion that is added to actual music. Especially in the low range, the register reaches values that significantly change the original signal.
In principle, a pick-up system works like a microphone. Converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. This mechanical energy comes not only from the grooves of the record, but also from the sound of the speakers. The louder you listen to the music from the turntable, the more feedback you will hear. And feedback blurs impulses in music, like the sound of drums. At home with moderate volume it is more likely to be neglected, at a club not.
Thanks to these (and a few other) technical shortcomings, the record doesn’t even meet the requirements of the traditional DIN No. 45500 standard on all points, which has defined the official hi-fi standard since the 1960s.

Don’t die: rumors about digital technology

On the contrary, rumors and false statements about digital technology are still circulating, for which the problems of the beginnings of the compact disc and the blatant misunderstandings about how digitization works are responsible.
Over and over again you can read that digital technology covers a smaller frequency range than analog. That’s actually true in theory, because CDs, for example, are limited to the range between 20 Hertz and 20 Kilohertz with filters.
However, on the one hand this is exactly the range that our hearing can cover in principle, and on the other hand it is pure theory that analog technology can represent a higher frequency range. In practice, for example, the cutting tools with which music is scraped into the matrices that vinyl is made of, heat up very quickly to high frequencies with a high level and thus limit the frequency response upward.
Friends of analog music storage like to deny digital technology the ability to display music correctly and that’s because of the discrete sampling. The waves that make up sounds are continuous events, whereas computers know only discrete states. The popular misunderstanding is that you can never fully capture the airwaves. After digitization, the waveforms would no longer be round, but staggered. But that is not right. The Niyquist-Shannon sampling theorem clearly states that the original signal can be restored exactly and not just roughly.
If all these facts are true and the record is so hopelessly inferior to the CD, why do so many people claim that the record “sounds better”?