Analog vs.

Digital Formats
Shashank Bhadani
C6803A16
Lovely Professional University
Punjab (India)

Abstract— An analog or analogue signal is any
continuous signal for which the time varying
feature (variable) of the signal is a representation
of some other time varying quantity, i.e.,
analogous to another time varying signal. It
differs from a digital signal in terms of small
fluctuations in the signal which are meaningful.
Analog is usually thought of in an electrical
context; however, mechanical, pneumatic,
hydraulic, and other systems may also convey
analog signals.
The term digital signal is used, to refer to more
than one concept. It can refer to discrete-time
signals that have a discrete number of levels, for
example a sampled and quantified analog signal,
or to the continuous-time waveform signals in a
digital system, representing a bit-stream. In the
first case, a signal that is generated by means of a
digital modulation method which is considered as
converted to an analogue signal, while it is
considered as a digital signal in the second case.
When used in reference to data storage and
transmission, analog format is that in which
information is transmitted by modulating a
continuous transmission signal, such as
amplifying a signal's strength or varying its
frequency to add or take away data.
For example, telephones take sound vibrations
and turn them into electrical vibrations of the
same shape before they are transmitted over
traditional telephone lines. Radio wave
transmissions work in the same way. Computers,
which handle data in digital form, require
modems to turn signals from digital to analog
before transmitting those signals over
communication lines such as telephone lines that
carry only analog signals. The signals are turned
back into digital form (demodulated) at the
receiving end so that the computer can process
the data in its digital format.
Digital Signal:

A digital system would be to flick the light switch

INTRODUCTION
Analog Signal:
A device or system that represents changing
values as continuously variable physical
quantities. A typical analog device is a clock in
which the hands move continuously around the
face. Such a clock is capable of indicating every
possible time of day.
on and off. There's no 'in between' values, unlike
our string. If the switch you are using is not a
dimmer switch, then the light is either on, or off.
In this case, the transmitter is the light bulb, the
media is the air, and the receiver is your eye. This
would be a digital system.
 demodulated message. An analysis of this
receiver thus indicates that some residual error
will always be present in an analog system's
output.
Although analog systems are less expensive in
many cases than digital ones for the same
application, digital systems offer much more
For example, is an analog experience because we
efficiency, better performance, and much greater
perceive infinitely smooth gradations of shapes
flexibility.
and color. Most analog events, however, can be
simulated digitally. Photographs in newspapers,
for instance, consist of an array of dots that are DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
either black or white. From afar, the viewer does In digital communication the data transfer rate
not see the dots (the digital form), but only lines depends up on the band width of the media. Band
and shading, which appear to be continuous. width of a media depends up on its
Although digital representations are characteristics. If the media can carry current at
approximations of analog events, they are useful higher frequency the band width will be higher.
because they are relatively easy to store and At present the highest bandwidth available is 10G
manipulate electronically. The trick is in (i.e. 10 giga bits per second). If we plan for a 10g
converting from analog to digital ,and back again. line we need to implement 10G switches
accordingly. But 1GBPS is widely used now
This is the principle behind compact discs (CDs). days. In case the media is fiber optic then data
The music itself exists in an analog form, as travels in the form of light and as light travels at
waves in the air, but these sounds are then the speed of 3lac km/sec., bandwidth is very high.
translated into a digital form that is encoded onto
the disk. When you play a compact disc, the CD
player reads the digital data, translates it back into
its original analog form, and sends it to the
amplifier and eventually the speakers.

Internally, computers are digital because they

consist of discrete units called bits that are either
on or off. But by combining many bits in complex
ways, computers simulate analog events. In one
sense, this is what computer science is all about.

ANALOG COMMUNICATION

Analog communication systems, amplitude

modulation (AM) radio being a typifying
example, can inexpensively communicate a band
limited analogy signal from one location to
another (point-to-point communication) or from
one point to many (broadcast). Although it is not
shown here, the coherent receiver provides the
largest possible signal-to-noise ratio for the
ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL OVER are what we call such systems today. Even
analog-based networks, such as the telephone
ANALOG system, employ modern computer networking
ideas rather than the purely analog systems of the
Although analog systems are less expensive in
past.
many cases than digital ones for the same
application, digital systems offer much more
Consequently, with the increased speed of digital
efficiency, better performance, and much greater
computers, the development of increasingly
flexibility.
efficient algorithms, and the ability to
interconnect computers to form a communications
Efficiency: The Source Coding Theorem allows
infrastructure, digital communication is now the
quantification of just how complex a given
best choice for many situations.
message source is and allows us to exploit that
complexity by source coding (compression). In
analog communication, the only parameters of Properties of Digital vs Analog signals:
interest are message bandwidth and amplitude.
We cannot exploit signal structure to achieve a
more efficient communication system. Digital information has certain properties that
distinguish it from analog communication
Performance: Because of the Noisy Channel methods. These include:
Coding Theorem, we have a specific criterion by
which to formulate error-correcting codes that can • Synchronization – digital communication
bring us as close to error-free transmission as we uses specific synchronization sequences
might want. Even though we may send for determining synchronization.
information by way of a noisy channel, digital • Language – digital communications
schemes are capable of error-free transmission requires a language which should be
while analog ones cannot overcome channel possessed by both sender and receiver and
disturbances; see this problem for a comparison. can should specify meaning of symbol
sequences.
Flexibility: Digital communication systems can • Errors – disturbances in analog
transmit real-valued discrete-time signals, which communication causes errors in actual
could be analog ones obtained by analog-to- intended communication but disturbances
digital conversion, and symbolic-valued ones in digital communication does not cause
(computer data, for example). Any signal that can errors enabling error free communication.
be transmitted by analog means can be sent by Errors should be able to substitute, insert
digital means, with the only issue being the or delete symbols to be expressed.
number of bits used in A/D conversion (how • Copying – analog communication copies
accurately do we need to represent signal are quality wise not as good as their
amplitude). Images can be sent by analog means originals while due to error free digital
(commercial television), but better communication, copies can be made
communication performance occurs when we use indefinitely.
digital systems (HDTV). In addition to digital • Granularity – for a continuously variable
communication's ability to transmit a wider analog value to be represented in digital
variety of signals than analog systems, point-to- form there occur quantization error which
point digital systems can be organized into global is difference in actual analog value and
(and beyond as well) systems that provide digital representation and this property of
efficient and flexible information transmission. digital communication is known as
Computer networks, explored in the next section, granularity.
 Analog recording vs. digital recording
Analog recording versus digital recording
compares the two ways in which sound is
recorded and stored. Actual sound waves consist
of continuous variations in air pressure.
Representations of these signals can be recorded
using either digital or analog techniques.
Analog recording:
An analog recording is one where a property or
characteristic of a physical recording medium is
made to vary in a manner analogous to the
variations in air pressure of the original sound.
Generally, the air pressure variations are first
converted (by a transducer such as a microphone)
into an electrical analog signal in which either the
instantaneous voltage or current is directly
proportional to the instantaneous air pressure (or
is a function of the pressure). The variations of
the electrical signal in turn are converted to
variations in the recording medium by a recording
machine such as a tape recorder or record cutter
—the variable property of the medium is
modulated by the signal. Examples of properties
that are modified are the magnetization of
magnetic tape or the deviation (or displacement)
of the groove of a gramophone disc from a
smooth, flat spiral track.
Limitations of Analog recording:
When using an analog system, there are some
major inherent limitations that can be
problematic. The first is when you’re editing
video the process doesn’t take the physical tape
material, slice it with a razor, and combine it with
other clips as one would with film. Rather a VTP
would read the information from the source tape
and send the signal to a VTR, which would record
the signal onto a new tape. This is called a
"generation" and analog has a tendency of not
making a 100% exact copy during this process.
As video is pushed through more and more
generations, the signal degrades until it is
essentially unrecognizable. There are tools that
help reduce this--like waveform monitors, signal
amplifiers, etc.--but most analog video is
unusable after 5 to 10 generations (for
professional standards). On the other hand, as
long as the information isn’t reprocessed(such as
in color correction, transitions, etc.) DV can
withstand dozens of generations and some
manufacturers have reported over 100 generations
with no perceptible loss in picture quality.
**citation needed** On the other hand, there are
limitations to a digital system mainly in regards to
sample rates and aliasing. However as the
delivery of the video signal is not analog anyway
(pixels) digital information processing on these
discrete units seems to make the most sense.
Digital recording:
A digital recording is produced by converting the
physical properties of the original sound into a
sequence of numbers, which can then be stored
and read back for reproduction. Usually (virtually
always), the sound is transduced (as by a
microphone) to an analog signal in the same way
as for analog recording, and then the analog
signal is digitized, or converted to a digital signal,
through an Analog-to-Digital converter (an
electronic device) either integrated into the digital
audio recorder or separate and connected between
the recorder and the analog source. An electrical
digital signal has variations in voltage and/or
current which represent discrete numbers instead
of being continuously mathematically related as a
function to the air pressure variations of sound.
There are two chief distinctions between an
analog and a digital signal. The first is that the
analog signal is continuous in time, meaning that
it varies smoothly over time no matter how short
a time period you consider, whereas the digital
signal, in contrast, is discrete in time, meaning it
has distinct parts that follow one after another
with definite, unambiguous division points (called
signal transitions) between them.
Why use digital recording?
Digital has advantages and disadvantages like any
tool, but the general consensus is that digital is
better, and for good reason. In post-production of
analog video, there are basically two editing related to the use of analog anti-aliasing filters,
options. There is assemble (aka linear) editing, in e.g., time dispersion, nonlinear distortion,
which the final product is assembled from the temperature dependence of filters etc.
various pieces in order from the beginning to end.
If a change needs to be made at any point, then Quantization noise:
everything from that point to the end of the
change must be recreated from the original source Analog systems do not have discrete digital levels
material. This, of course, is problematic if the in which the signal is encoded. Consequently, the
needs of the production are the least bit dynamic. original signal can be preserved to an accuracy
Avid was the first popular computer based limited only by the intrinsic noise-floor and
“nonlinear” editing application, originally created maximum signal level of the media and the
for film editing. It was a small step toward playback equipment, i.e., the dynamic range of
moving into professional video editing the system. With digital systems, noise added due
applications. Non-linear editing allows the editor to quantization into discrete levels is more
to “ripple” an insert so that everything that comes audibly disturbing than the noise-floor in analog
after the change is shifted to accommodate the systems. This form of distortion, sometimes
shift. As computer-based editing became more called granular or quantization distortion, has
popular, the choices were either staying with the been pointed to as a fault of some digital systems
hardware controlled tape-to-tape linear systems or and recordings. Knee & Hawksford (1995:3)
digitizing the analog footage into a computer for drew attention to the deficiencies in some early
digital editing. Since computers are digital digital recordings, where the digital release was
systems--not analog--the video signal is translated said to be inferior to the analog version. The
into a digital signal. The evolutionary step was a quantization noise level is directly determined by
short one to have the video signal recorded in a the number of bits of quantization resolution,
digital format. decreasing exponentially with it (or linearly in dB
units), and with an adequate number of true bits
Advantages of Analog format over of quantization, random noise from other sources
Digital format will dominate and completely mask the
quantization noise.
It can be argued that analog formats retain some
inherent advantages over digital formats. The Overload conditions and dynamic range:
relevance of these advantages depends on the
quality of specific digital or analog equipment. There are some differences in the behavior of
The advantages of analog systems are analog and digital systems when high level
summarized below: signals are present, where there is the possibility
that such signals could push the system into
• Absence of aliasing distortion overload. With high level signals, analog
• Absence of quantization noise magnetic tape approaches saturation, and high
• Behaviour in overload conditions frequency response drops in proportion to low
frequency response. While undesirable, the
Aliasing: audible effect of this can be reasonably
unobjectionable. In contrast, digital PCM
Unlike digital audio systems, analog systems do recorders show non-benign behavior in overload;
not require filters for band limiting. These filters samples that exceed the peak quantization level
act to prevent aliasing distortions in digital are simply truncated, clipping the waveform
equipment. Early digital systems may have squarely, which introduces distortion in the form
suffered from a number of signal degradations of large quantities of higher-frequency harmonics.
The 'softness' of analog tape clipping allows a
usable dynamic range that can exceed that of
some PCM digital recorders. (PCM, or pulse code
modulation, is the coding scheme used in
Compact Disc, DAT, PC sound cards, and many
studio recording systems.
Digital formats - Advantages and
Complexities of Digital Recording
Recording, particularly of music and video
images, consumes massive amounts of digital
memory. High-density discs are ideal for these
types of recording. Direct digital recordings can
play back recorded or modulated sound. Tape
recording, though convenient and easy, could not
store digital data until the development of the
DAT tape. Carrier signals in digital recording are
always pulse waves that alternate between
voltages (analog signals). Consequently, the
modulation method in most digital systems for
music is pulse code modulation (PCM). On CDs
and other disc formats read by laser, the physical
structure uses islands or raised points and pits or
low points as the zeros and ones; in pulse
modulation, the high ends of the pulses are easily
represented as the islands, and the low pulses are
the pits. Pulse code modulation is actually an old
development in the history of recordings.
The conversion of sampling frequency from
analog to digital is critical to sound recording.
The frequency is measured or sampled many
times per second and then averaged to produce
the single piece of data for the digital input.
Increasing the sampling frequency improves the
sound quality but decreases the storage economy
especially on tapes. Resolution is another
important specification and describes the number
of bits used to represent the amplitude of an
instant on the recording. Each bit doubles the
possibility for representing instantaneous
amplitude levels. Typically, 14-bit resolution is
used to give a range of 16,384 possibilities for
representing instantaneous amplitude values.
Quantization is the process that converts the
collection of values into the amplitude the listener
hears.
Recording media are all imperfect, thanks to
specks of dust or other contamination that
prevents equipment from imprinting the data on
the medium. Data on CD and DAT tape are even
more tightly compressed than those on analog
tapes, so loss of data is effectively magnified. To
fix this, special error correction codes are built
into the data stream to weave the sample values
throughout the data. Some of these error
correction codes can be very complex, and, of
course, they also consume valuable storage space
on the CD or tape. The recording engineer must
compromise the number of error codes to make
enough storage for the sound data.
Disadvantages of Analog formats
Analog systems also have the disadvantage that,
when a recording is played back and rerecorded,
distortion is increased by about 0.5 %. Each
subsequent copy will be worse. Analog discs and
tape are also nonlinear and do not record all
sounds equally, leading to inaccurate
reproduction. In a digital recording system, this
distortion does not occur. The master recording
may have minimal quantization errors, but these
do not compound when copies are made. In this
case, the absolute zero-orone character of the
digital world works to an advantage because the
copy is equally absolute unless the digital
recording is reconverted to an analog signal.
Thousands of copies can be made from a digital
master without distortion; similarly, digital media
on CDs can be played back thousands of times
without distortion.
The Future Of Digital Recording
formats
Recordable and erasable CDs are giving the
compact disc greater versatility. Compact disc
recorders allow the user to record audio from
various sources on CDs. The recorders require
attentive use because the recording procedure
depends on the type, quality, and input device of
the source material. If the source is a CD that can
be played on a machine with digital optical
output, it can be connected directly to the CD
recorder as input and be dubbed like an audio
tape. The recorder evaluates the sonic range of the
original and digitally synchronizes it; if tracks are
recorded from several CDs, the recorder must
resynchronize with each track.
Erasable CDs followed recordable CDs quickly.
Erasable CDs or CD-Es can be overwritten when
the data on them becomes obsolete. High-density
CD-Rs and CD-Es are also being developed and
are anticipated by the music industry because they
can store music detail more completely. Enhanced
audio CDs include music videos, lyrics, scores
that the home musician can play, and interviews
with the musicians. Enhanced audio CDs can be
played on a CD-ROM drive and viewed on a
monitor or connected television set. High
Definition Compatible Digitals or HDCDs are
also being marketed on a limited basis. They
produce more realistic sound but require a CD
player with a built-in decoder. Tapes in a high-
density format are also on the horizon; analysts
expect HDTV videocassette recorders to be less
expensive than conventional VCRs eventually
because the design and concept are simpler while
producing higher quality video reproduction.
Ultimately, the changes in computer architecture
and the uniting of computers with
communications systems will bring all types of
recordings of the best digital quality into the
home from many media sources.
The Future of Digital Recording professionals often mix and match analog and
formats
Recordable and erasable CDs are giving the
compact disc greater versatility. Compact disc
recorders allow the user to record audio from
various sources on CDs. The recorders require
attentive use because the recording procedure
depends on the type, quality, and input device of
the source material. If the source is a CD that can
be played on a machine with digital optical
output, it can be connected directly to the CD
recorder as input and be dubbed like an audio
tape. The recorder evaluates the sonic range of the
original and digitally synchronizes it; if tracks are
recorded from several CDs, the recorder must
resynchronize with each track.
Erasable CDs followed recordable CDs quickly.
Erasable CDs or CD-Es can be overwritten when
the data on them becomes obsolete. High-density
CD-Rs and CD-Es are also being developed and
are anticipated by the music industry because they
can store music detail more completely. Enhanced
audio CDs include music videos, lyrics, scores
that the home musician can play, and interviews
with the musicians. Enhanced audio CDs can be
played on a CD-ROM drive and viewed on a
monitor or connected television set. High
Definition Compatible Digitals or HDCDs are
also being marketed on a limited basis. They
produce more realistic sound but require a CD
player with a built-in decoder. Tapes in a high-
density format are also on the horizon; analysts
expect HDTV videocassette recorders to be less
expensive than conventional VCRs eventually
because the design and concept are simpler while
producing higher quality video reproduction.
Ultimately, the changes in computer architecture
and the uniting of computers with
communications systems will bring all types of
recordings of the best digital quality into the
home from many media sources.
CONCLUSION
Complicating the discussion is that recording
digital techniques in the process of producing a
recording. Analog signals can be subjected to
digital signal processing or effects, and inversely
digital signals are converted back to analog in
equipment that can include analog steps such as
vacuum tube amplification.
For modern recordings, the controversy between
analog recording and digital recording is
becoming moot. No matter what format the user
uses, the recording probably was digital at several
stages in its life. In case of video recordings it is
moot for one other reason; whether the format is
analog or digital, digital signal processing is
likely to have been used in some stages of its life, • http://www.mypptsearch.com/search-
such as digital time base correction on playback. ppt/analog+communication+modulatio
n/
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to thank all those who helped me. Without

them, I could not have completed this project.

Apart from the efforts of me, the success of THIS

TERM PAPER depends largely on the
encouragement and guidelines of many others. I
take this opportunity to express my gratitude to
the people who have been instrumental in the
successful completion of this project.
First and foremost, I would like to thank to our
TEACHER SAHITYA ROY SIR for the
valuable guidance and advice. He inspired us
greatly to work. His willingness to motivate
contributed tremendously.
Besides, we would like to thank the authority of
Lovely Professional University (LPU) for
providing us with a good environment and
facilities.
Finally, an honourable mention goes to our
families and friends for their understandings and
supports on us in completing this project.

REFERENCES
• www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/.../analog_
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• www.differencebetween.net/.../difference-
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• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_rec
ording_vs._digital_recording#Analog_a
dvantages
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http://www.diffen.com/difference/Analo
g_vs_Digital
• http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/Webcours
e-contents/IISc BANG/Data
%20Communication/Learning
%20Material
%20%20DataCommunication.pdf