Audio Engineering

Digital Audio Fundamentals 419

The wordlength determines the possible range of values:

Wordlength Range

1

2

3

8

10

• • • • • • •


• •


• 
  


• 
  

  16

  
  

2 (2^1 )

4 (2^2 )

8 (2^3 )

256 (2^8 )

1024 (2^10 )

65 536 (2^16 )

(a)

(b)

Round numbers in binary

(^100000000002)
1K 1K




1M 1K
1M 1M
1024  1 K (Kilo in computers)
1 M (Mega)
1 G (Giga)
1 T (Tera)
eliminated, making for accurate stereo images. One’s greatest effort is expended
in the design of convertors, whereas those parts of the system that handle data need
only be workmanlike. When a digital recording is copied, the same numbers appear on
the copy: it is not a dub, it is a clone. If the copy is undistinguishable from the original,
there has been no generation loss. Digital recordings can be copied indefi nitely without
loss of quality. This is, of course, wonderful for the production process, but when the
technology becomes available to the consumer, the issue of copyright becomes of great
importance.
Figure 14.7 : The wordlength of a sample controls the resolution as shown in (a). The ability
to address memory locations is also determined in the same way as in (b).