Analog recording

For broader coverage of this topic, see Sound recording and reproduction.

Analog recording is a category of techniques used for the recording of analog signals. This enables later playback of the recorded analog audio.

Neumann Sound Engraver VMS-70

Analog audio recording began with mechanical systems such as the phonautograph and phonograph.^[1] Later, electronic techniques such as wire^[2] and tape recording^[3] were developed.

Analog recording methods store analog signals directly in or on the media. The signal may be stored as a physical texture on a phonograph record, or a fluctuation in the field strength of a magnetic recording. Analog transmission methods use analog signals to distribute audio content.^[4] These are in contrast to digital audio where an analog signal is sampled and quantized to produce a digital signal which is represented, stored and transmitted as discrete numbers.^[5]

See also

• Comparison of analog and digital recording
• History of sound recording
• Timeline of audio formats