Mp3 faq - What is PCM

What is PCM?

PCM is Pulse Code Modulation. The volume of the sound is sampled at regular intervals, extremely frequently - thousands of times per second. Each sample is converted into a binary number and that is stored in the file or transmitted. In order to play back the data, each binary number is converted to an analog voltage, at the same rate as was used during recording. I believe that PCM is the simplest, uncompressed method of holding sound information, as used in conventional WAV files.

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