PCM audio is a term that is frequently used in the audio industry. In simple terms, PCM stands for pulse code modulation, which is a type of digital audio encoding. This method is used to convert analog audio signals into digital signals that can be stored, transmitted, and processed by various digital devices.
In PCM, analog audio signals are sampled at regular intervals and then quantized into a series of digital values. These values are then encoded and stored as digital data. PCM is widely used in applications that require high-quality digital audio, such as CD audio, digital telephony, and computer audio. It is also used in home theater systems and other digital audio applications.
Table Of Contents showPCM (pulse code modulation) is a digital audio format that is used to represent sampled analog signals. In PCM audio, the amplitude of the analog signal is sampled at uniform intervals, and each sample is quantized to the nearest value within a range of digital steps. This process converts analog audio signals (represented by waveforms) into digital audio signals (represented by ones and zeros) with no compression.
PCM audio is the standard form of digital audio used in computers, compact discs, digital telephony, and other digital audio applications. It allows the recording of a musical performance, movie soundtrack, or other pieces of audio into a smaller space, virtually and physically.
In PCM audio, the digital audio signal is made up of a series of multi-bit words. The number of bits used to represent each sample determines the resolution of the digital audio signal. The higher the resolution, the more accurately the digital audio signal represents the original analog signal.
The two most common resolutions for PCM audio are 16-bit and 24-bit. 16-bit audio provides a resolution of 65,536 possible values, while 24-bit audio provides a resolution of 16,777,216 possible values. This means that 24-bit audio has a much higher dynamic range and can accurately represent much quieter sounds than 16-bit audio.
PCM audio is a digital audio format used to represent sampled analog signals. It is the standard form of digital audio used in many applications, including computers, compact discs, and digital telephony. The resolution of PCM audio determines the accuracy with which the digital audio signal represents the original analog signal.
Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a digital audio encoding method that has been around for decades. It was first developed in the 1930s by British engineer Alec Reeves, who was trying to improve the quality of long-distance telephone calls.
In the early days, PCM was used primarily for telecommunications and military applications. It was not until the 1970s that PCM started to be used for consumer audio applications, such as vinyl record cutting and digital audio tape recording.
One of the first consumer applications of PCM was the Compact Disc (CD) format, which was introduced in the early 1980s. CDs used a 16-bit PCM encoding method to store digital audio data, which allowed for high-quality, noise-free playback.
