Digital audio does not stand alone; instead, it's build on the foundation of the acoustic and analog domains. Matt outlines the relationship between the acoustic, analog, and digital domains, and traces the path of sound as it travels between them. An analog-to-digital converter or ADC converts analog audio into digital samples, and a digital-to-analog converter or DAC converts digital audio into analog.
- Now you know the basics of how sound works…in the acoustic domain and how it can be…transduced to and from the analog domain.…But where does digital audio fit in?…The answer is in the analog signal path.…For example, to make an analog signal path for recording,…we start with acoustic sound and use a mic…and preamp to bring that sound into the analog domain…and record it onto tape.…When the tape is played back, that signal goes…through a power amp and a speaker,…to make acoustic sound again.…
To make this into a digital signal path,…we swap out the tape recorder with three new stages:…an Analog-to-Digital Converter, or ADC,…a computer, including digital storage,…and a Digital-to-Analog Converter, or DAC.…Just like before, we start with acoustic sound,…transduce it into the analog domain,…and amplify it to line level.…But now, instead of recording the signal to tape,…we send it to an ADC.…
The ADC measures the signal thousands of times per second,…sending each measurement to the computer…as a number to be saved onto a hard disk…
Author
Matt Mayfield
Released
4/22/2016The course starts with explanations of what sound really is and how we hear it, including discussions on frequency, amplitude, phase, and psychoacoustics. Matt explores analog audio signal path, explaining connections, gain staging, and metering. Next, he brings the audio signal into the digital domain, discussing analog to digital conversion, digital gain staging, file formats and compression, and dither.
Then the course digs into digital audio workstations (DAWs), explaining the concepts and misconceptions involved in digital recording systems. Matt describes how memory, CPU speed, and storage affect your DAW's performance, as well as how to manage computer resources and understand the plethora of file formats associated with digital recording. He follows with an overview of MIDI: how to generate, store, process, and communicate MIDI data. He wraps up with the audio processors that are often used for mixing in a DAW—including EQ, compressors, reverb, delay, and many others.
- What is sound?
- The three domains of sound: acoustic, analog, and digital
- The analog vs. digital signal paths
- Converting analog audio to digital
- Digital formats and data compression
- Understanding the five types of DAWs
- Recording performances with MIDI
- Mixing and processing audio with EQ, compression, and other effects
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome2m 2s
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1. Concepts of Sound
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What is sound made of?2m 51s
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Frequency and amplitude8m 21s
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Phase and time4m 37s
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How do we hear?6m 16s
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2. The Signal Path: Acoustic and Analog
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Overview of a signal path4m 20s
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Types of analog connections7m 54s
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Metering5m 52s
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3. The Signal Path: Digital
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Adding the digital domain3m 54s
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Analog to digital conversion7m 11s
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Dither6m 59s
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Digital to analog conversion9m 13s
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4. Digital Audio Workstations
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Introducing the DAW4m 51s
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Managing computer resources8m 57s
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5. MIDI
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How MIDI is communicated6m 18s
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Storing and processing MIDI3m 22s
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6. Mixing and Processing Audio
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Levels, pan, and automation6m 54s
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Types of EQ components7m 48s
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Reverb5m 55s
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Conclusion
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Next steps2m 15s
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Video: Adding the digital domain