Musical Skills!! 43Digital Audio
Digital audio has revolutionized recording. With digital audio, the analog
sound is converted into a binary code composed of 0s and 1s and then
reconverted to analog through the use of digital-to-audio converters. The
conversion enables the sound to be heard through a speaker system; digi-
tal sound cannot be heard without this conversion. The sound of digital is
debatable. Some listeners enjoy the sound because it is pristine—clean and
transparent. Others prefer the ‘‘warmer’’ sound of analog tape. Most rock-
and-roll bands favor analog recording because they feel it has a ‘‘dirtier’’
sound and a deeper bottom end; most pop and rhythm-and-blues music
is recorded in a digital format since producers like the crisp, clear sound. It
is a matter of personal choice. Both formats are used in all styles of music,
although digital recording has captured the market.
A third option is called Dolby SR (spectral recording), which is a noise-
reduction system used with analog tape that improves noise reduction up
to 24 decibels over systems without it. The result is a quiet, warm sound.
Many producers prefer the Dolby SR format to plain analog or digital
recording because of the warmer sound.
The digital format has now become the standard of the global music
industry. Some producers mix and record in the digital format and trans-
fer the final mix on analog tape. They prefer the ‘‘warmer’’ sound of tape.
(Very few companies manufacture analog or digital tape because of the
low demand.) The following are some advantages to digital audio:
The principal advantage of digital technology is the ability to copy
and combine information without a loss of quality.With analog record-
ing, the frequency with which tracks are copied and recopied determines
the noticeable quantity of hiss and distortion. With digital technology, dig-
ital numbers are stored and converted into analog signals, enabling the
audio to be heard. Consequently, there is no loss of quality when copying
data.
The digital format allows a programmer to perform nonlinear, non-
destructive editing on software-based computer systems.Nonlinear edit-
ing enables programmers to instantly locate any section of a file without
having to fast-forward to a location. Since there is no tape, the computer
program memorizes the parameters of the edit, and the edit is performed
instantaneously. Most programs work by highlighting specific regions for
editing. For example, if the assignment is to delete measures 4 through 27,
the programmer highlights the region and pushes delete. Digital technol-
ogy also allows for multiple mixes and numerous edits without losing any
recorded information. The parent files are retained unless deliberately
erased. This enables experimentation without a loss of audio quality.
Computer music-sequencing programs contain digital audio (e.g.,