Art of Digital Audio, 3rd Edition

1

Why digital?

1.1 Introduction

The applications of audio technology are numerous, but generally the goal is to reproduce sound at a later time, at another place or both. The consumer needs reasonably affordable equipment which will reproduce recordings or receive transmissions, whereas the record company or broadcaster needs equipment which can manipulate audio signals to produce recordings or programs. In this case flexibility and speed of operation are more important than first cost.

In one sense provided the sound is reproduced to an acceptable standard, the user doesn’t care how it is done. The point to be stressed is that it is the service that is needed, not the technology. People don’t want technology; instead they want the services it ...