HARD DISK BASED RECORDING SYSTEM

Introduction

The computer system deals mainly with texts and digits. These texts and digits are in digital form and are recorded on the hard disk of the computer. So, if the analog audio or video is converted into digital form, it can be recorded on the hard disk of the computer. Then the computer can manipulate the audio/video in the similar way as it manipulates texts and digits. This is what is known as hard disk based recording system. Hard disk based recording system used for audio is also known as Audio Work Station. Before we discuss the hard disk based recording system, let us see the constraints of analogue system and benefits of digital system.

Analogue System - The constraints

Inflexible - Insert/drop is not easy. Quality - It degrades with usage. Editing - Cumbersome and time consuming Automation - Complete automation is difficult. Limited signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. Compression technique is not possible. Signal quality degrades due to tape hiss, modulation noise, dropouts, wow and flutter, cross talk, distortion etc. There is slow progress of analogue equipments.

Digital System - The benefits

It is highly flexible and versatile. No quality degradation with multiple usage. Highly reliable, efficient and nondestructive editing Complete automation is possible. Excellent signal to Noise Ratio - better than 90 dB. Dynamic Range - better than 90 dB Cross Talk - better than 90 dB Distortion - 0.004% Wow & Flutter - Nil

Quality depends only on the quality of conversion process.

It is possible to use compression technique. This results in bandwidth saving. Tremendous benefits in the areas of post-production, archiving and multigeneration. Since the signal is in binary form, it is immune from noise. Hard disk recording facilitates random access. Centralised storage system can be provided. There is fast progress of digital equipment.