ABSTRACT
The digital storage of audio signals presents a technical challenge. A 60 minute stereo musical selection, with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz and 16 bit pulse code modulation, generates over 5 billion bits. To store this data successfully, error correction, synchronization, and modulation may push the total required capacity to over 15 billion bits. Recordings with a higher sampling frequency, longer word-length, and additional channels require correspondingly greater storage capacity. In addition, commercial music storage media must provide random access, small size, convenience, durability, low cost, and ease of replication. Still other applications call for write-once or recordable/erasable storage. Clearly, digital audio’s storage requirements are formidable.
