Digital Audio

Digital Audio refers to the reproduction and the transmissions of a stored sound in a digital format. This includes things like CDs or mp3s and other forms of sound that can be stored on a computer. In contrast for instance say the telephone system, which is stored in a completely different format which is called the analogue system. In sound recording and reproduction systems, digital audio refers to a digital representation of the audio waveform for processing.

Digital Audio came about due to its usefulness when recording and distribution in sound. The modern day usage of this system is through the internet to post put songs on web pages and videos on YouTube depends on digital recording and digital compression algorithms. One of the good things about using this system is that it reduces the cost of the distribution because it is not a physical object.

Also it is very easy to access because nowadays if people want something or need something they go on the internet. In an analog system sounds are usually made physically and are recorded into a mic which is transformed into a electrical representation of a waveform, which is stored or transmitted. Analog audio signals are susceptible to noise and distortion, unavoidable due to the innate characteristics of electronic circuits and associated devices.

In the case of purely analog recording and reproduction, numerous opportunities for the introduction of noise and distortion exist throughout the entire process. When audio is digitized, distortion and noise are introduced only by the stages that precede conversion to digital format, and by the stages that follow conversion back to analog. Digital Audio Workstation or DAW is one of the commonly used terms in home music production environment.

Yet some are still confused especially the beginners in music production with no electrical/sound engineering background as to what is really the meaning of Digital Audio Workstation? The fact is that, it’s so hard to understand what is digital audio workstation without giving the beginner; a complete information of how everything starts and end in music production. It’s why this lengthy post is perfect for those completely new in digital-based home recording or recording music using computers!

I should have written this a long time ago, anyway its good that I put some importance of posting this one. Let’s get started.. First, you need to understand how the music goes into your computer. Your music is a sound wave which is an analog signal, a continuous form of signal(e. g. a sine wave). A musical instrument or a disturbance (e. g a water droplet falling into a pail of water) and can cause vibrations in the air that causes it propagate in the form of a sound wave.

When these air pressure vibrations reaches your ear, you will perceived it as a sound if the pressure is strong enough to cause vibrations in your ear drum and if the frequency is audible (20Hz to 20,000Hz). The music you hear are actually composed of musical notes which are sinusoidal in nature and has two properties which are:

• Amplitude (how strong are the pressure vibrations, which is usually measured by SPL or sound pressure level using decibels).
• Frequency( how high or low is the pitch of the sound wave, measured in Hertz)