Understanding the Differences Between Analog and Digital Recording

1. How They Capture Sound:

   • Analog recording takes in sound in a smooth, continuous way. It uses changing voltage levels to mirror how sound naturally travels through the air.
   • Digital recording changes sound into a series of numbers, known as binary code. This means it captures sound in chunks or samples, not as a smooth wave.

2. How Often They Sample Sound:

   • For digital audio, common sampling rates are 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. This means that the sound is sampled 44,100 times each second, which is good enough for CDs.
   • Some higher rates, like 96 kHz and 192 kHz, are used too. These can give even clearer and better sound.

3. Range of Sound Levels:

   • Analog systems usually handle sound ranges between about 70 and 80 decibels (dB).
   • Digital systems can handle a wider range, reaching up to 90 to 100 dB or more, which helps make the sound clearer and reduces any background noise.

4. How Easy It Is to Edit:

   • Digital recordings make it simple to edit without changing the original version. This means you can adjust things, and the original sound stays the same.
   • On the other hand, editing analog recordings often requires physically working with the tape, making it trickier and sometimes impossible to go back to the original.

5. How Long They Last:

   • Analog tapes can wear out over time. How long they last depends a lot on how they are stored.
   • Digital recordings, when stored correctly, can last forever without losing any quality.