Analogue audio refers to sound represented by a continuous signal that mirrors the characteristics of the original sound wave. Unlike digital audio, which uses discrete samples, analogue audio captures and reproduces sound variations as a continuous flow.
Understanding Analogue Recording
According to the reference provided, analogue recording methods are characterized by storing these continuous analog signals directly onto or within a physical medium. This means the medium itself takes on a form or state that directly corresponds to the changes in the sound wave.
There are primary ways this direct storage occurs:
- Physical Texture: The signal can be stored as a physical texture on a recording medium. A classic example is a phonograph record, where the grooves are physically etched with wiggles that replicate the sound wave's vibrations.
- Magnetic Fluctuation: Another method involves storing the signal as a fluctuation in the field strength of a magnetic recording. Magnetic tape recorders, for instance, vary the magnetic intensity on the tape in proportion to the audio signal's amplitude.
In both cases, the physical or magnetic state of the medium holds a direct, continuous representation of the sound signal.
Analogue Transmission
Similarly, analogue transmission methods are those that use these continuous analogue signals to distribute audio content. This can involve sending the varying signal directly over wires or broadcasting it via radio waves, where the amplitude or frequency of the carrier wave is continuously modified in proportion to the audio signal.
In summary, analogue audio systems handle sound as continuous waves, with recording and transmission methods designed to capture, store, and distribute these signals directly, often through physical imprints or magnetic variations on a medium.
