ABSTRACT
The two basic types of recording systems are analog and digital. In the context of recording, analog usually refers to old-style tape recorders, but it also includes phonograph records, which are more a means of distribution than a recording medium. The recording head consists of a metal core or pole piece, with a coil of wire wound around it. Many engineers prefer recording at 30 inches per second (ISP), which uses twice as much tape as 15 ISP. Digital recording comprises two primary devices: a converter and a storage medium. Many professional recording engineers believe it’s better to have more leakage that sounds clear rather than less leakage that sounds muffled. Digital recording is sometimes accused of being “sterile” and “cold sounding” by audiophiles, recording engineers, and the audio press. Compared to editing analog tape with a razor blade, manipulating audio in a digital system is far easier and vastly more powerful.
