3.4 Representing Audio Data

We perceive sound when a series of air compressions vibrate a membrane in our ear, which sends signals to our brain. Thus a sound is defined in nature by the wave of air that interacts with our eardrum. See FIGURE 3.7. To represent a sound, we must somehow represent the appropriate sound wave.

An illustration represents the sound wave which interacts with the eardrum.

FIGURE 3.7 A sound wave vibrates our eardrums

A stereo sends an electrical signal to a speaker to produce sound. This signal is an analog representation of the sound wave. The voltage in the signal varies in direct proportion to the sound wave. The speaker receives the signal and causes a membrane to vibrate, which in turn ...

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