Digital Audio

Digital Audio is the process of turning analogue information into digital information also called digitizing.

An audio signal is analysed by an A/D (analogue to digital).

The A/D converter analyses the waveform of an analogue signal and samples that wave.. For examples 48KHz = waveforms analysed 48,000 times per second. Higher samples equal higher resolution frequency.

Professional Audio Files types

.AIFF Files

Audio Interchange file format

Developed by Apple.

.WAV Files

Waveform Audio Format

Developed by Microsoft (Most commonly used)

.BWF Files

Broadcast Wave Format

by the European Broadcast Union

The BWF is used as the next generation of the WAV file and new industry standards.

MP3 Files

MP3 commonly known as a compressed audio file that is popular in the mass media market. Mainly used for sharing over the internet.

MIDI

Musicla Instrument Digital Interface

Allow computers and musical equipment to communicate and synchronise

(The Sound Effect Bible - Ric Viers)