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Analog to Digital Converter— (ADC, A/D or A to D)

Analog to Digital Converter— (ADC, A/D or A to D) : Device that converts analog signals to digital. This involves a conversion of the voltages representing the original pressure waves into discrete digital numbers that can be read by computer or digital audio device. To achieve archival-quality conversion (digitization), practitioners should seek out the highest-quality analog to digital converters that they can afford. Inferior, consumer-based equipment will introduce additional noise into the signal.  A/D converters are now commonly connected to computer via USB or Firewire interfaces, enabling the conversion to take place outside of the machine. For audio, A/D converters are often found on portable field recorders. [ Audio Glossary ] [ Video Glossary ]

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