What is Digital and Analog Audio?

Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to humans. An audio frequency (AF) is an electrical alternating current within the 20 to 20,000 cycles per second that is known as Hertz (HZ) range that can be used to produce acoustic sound. There are two type of Audio signals, Digital and Analog.

Digital audio is technology that can be used in sound recording and reproduction systems. It will record, store, generate, manipulate, and reproduce sound using audio signals encoded in digital form. Following significant advances in digital audio technology during the 1970s, it rapidly replaced analog audio technology in most areas of sound production, sound engineering and telecommunications.

In analog technology, a wave is recorded or used in its original form. 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.

Understanding Analog and Digital Audio

Analog, Digital Audio Diagram

Analog Audio Out (red and white RCA plugs): Analog audio splits sound into “Left” and “Right” components which is called stereo sound. Therefore, if you only have 3 speakers connected to your sound system (left, right, and center) then you can use this RCA connection and get great sound. As far as quality is concerned, most people will not be able to tell the difference between a sound system connected by digital with 3 speakers and the red and white analog sound. So my recommendation is if you have a simple TV setup with 3 speakers than there is no reason to get behind the television and switch to digital.

Digital Audio Out: Digital audio transmits dobly digital which can support front center, right, and left speakers as well as rear right, left, and center speakers. Therefore if you have a full surround sound system with 5 or more speakers you want to use digital sound. If you use the analog red and white cables you will not get the full effect of your sound system.

Audio Switch:

BZBEXPRESS offers variety of Audio Switchers for Analog/Digital, Balanced, and Unbalanced Audio. Our Switchers consists of one or more cross point modules that switch together, or sometimes independently, to connect the desired signals through the switcher.

Audio Extenders:

The limits of a cable are tested when there is a long distance between components. This is true for audio; hence the need for audio extenders. An audio cable may take you as far as 50-100 feet before experiencing degradation and anything longer will require the use of an audio extender. Audio extenders typically use CAT5/6/7 cables or even wireless to transmit an audio signal long distances.

Zigen ZIG-AX Line level audio Extender

Audio Cables:

Audio cables are designed in a large number of interfaces including digital and analog. These cables are used in many types of applications including home theaters, music studios, live events to pro audio mixing boards used by DJ’s. Many audio connectors are made to be easily connected by users simply by connecting and disconnecting. There are many types and sizes of audio cable connectors including TRS(tip, ring and sleeve) usually 6.3mm, 3.5mm, 3.5mm optical mini plug, banana plugs, RCA, speaker pins, TOSLINK and XLR for many professional audio applications. We’ve got the right audio cables for your application, speak with one of our knowledgeable agents to assist you today.

Amplifiers/Preamplifiers:
An amplifier is an electronic device that increases the voltage, current, or power of a signal. This is done by using energy from a power supply and controlling the output to match the signal input’s shape but with larger amplitude. Amplifiers are used in wireless communications and broadcasting, and in audio equipment of all kinds. A complete selection of programmable audio amplifiers are available on our website To be used home audio systems, concert and theatrical sound reinforcement and public address systems.
The Purpose of Audio Converters is to convert one audio format to another. Typically, in the AV world converting analog to digital or vice versa (stereo to S/PDIF) is the main use of audio converters. There are also other types of audio converters where you may want to extract an audio signal from a combined digital video and audio signal (HDMI or SDI). On the other hand, you may want an audio converter to embed an audio signal with an analog video to a digital signal such as HDMI. Audio converters are very common in staging environments, studio settings, live concerts and musical events.