PCMaudio

PCMaudio refers to audio data that has been digitized using Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM). It is a fundamental method for representing analog audio signals in a digital format, widely used in digital audio storage and transmission. In PCM, the analog waveform is sampled at regular intervals, and the amplitude of each sample is quantized to a discrete value. These discrete values are then represented as binary numbers. The key parameters defining a PCM audio stream are the sampling rate and the bit depth. The sampling rate determines how many times per second the analog signal is measured, with common rates including 44.1 kHz for CDs and 48 kHz for professional audio. Bit depth indicates the number of bits used to represent each sample's amplitude, influencing the dynamic range and precision of the digital audio. Higher bit depths, such as 16-bit or 24-bit, offer greater detail and a wider range between the loudest and quietest sounds. Uncompressed PCM audio, often found in formats like WAV or AIFF, is known for its fidelity but also results in large file sizes. It serves as the basis for many other digital audio formats, including compressed ones like MP3, where the PCM data is subsequently processed to reduce file size.