A digital signal is based on a binary logic of two states represented by ones and zeros,
Originating from the Latin word signalis , signal is a sign or mark that provides information about something in order to warn or notify someone of some issue. The term can also refer to the change in electricity current used to transmit data. Digital , for its part, is an adjective that mentions what is linked to fingers or one-digit numbers .
With this clear, we can understand what a digital signal is. It is the signal whose signs represent certain discrete values that contain encoded information . Systems that use digital signals usually use binary logic , two states , which are replaced by ones and zeros , which indicate the high or low state of the electrical voltage level.
Characteristics of a digital signal
A digital signal loses little quality and can be reconstructed through a regeneration process . These signals can also be processed easily and are not very susceptible to environmental noise.
While analog signals are continuous , digital signals have the ability to go from one value to another without crossing intermediate values. This is linked to what we mentioned before about binary logic : each digital signal can only take two states, represented by ones and zeros.
In any electronic system , such as a computer ( computer ), information is read through binary code. The digital signals that a computer handles, therefore, are ones and zeros that the system “knows” how to interpret to respond to the user's commands.
In the case of music, there are those who prefer analog nuances instead of digital signals.
The question of quality
It is important to mention that although there is a general idea that the digital signal offers higher quality than the analog signal, given that its resistance to wear is much greater, this is not always true. In the case of music , for example, it is very easy to recognize a disadvantage of the digital signal compared to its counterpart: when listening to a recording of a piece with many nuances on a vinyl record, as long as hi-fi equipment is used , a person with very good hearing is likely to perceive details that cannot be reproduced on a compact disc.
This also doesn't mean that the sound of a vinyl record is always better or more natural than that of a compact disc; Each case must be analyzed separately, and it is also true that digital technology advances every second, so it would be false to say that we have known its limits. In other words, the important thing is not to compare both technologies looking for the winner, but rather trying to understand their differences to know when it is appropriate to use each one.
Advantages of a digital signal
Some of the advantages of digital signals over analog signals are the following:
* If it is attenuated throughout its transmission, it is possible to amplify it;
* Perhaps one of the most important is that it offers the possibility of detecting and correcting errors when it reaches its destination . This is essential for the stability and performance of many devices, since it allows speed to be increased without putting the system at risk in the event of a failure;
* processing a digital signal is much easier than an analog one;
* In the case of the optical disk, it gives rise to an infinite generation with minimal quality losses.
Points against
On the other hand, we also notice the following disadvantages:
* when using a magnetic tape, the loss of information with each generation is greater, and in fact it is not possible to carry out more than 5 generations;
* requires a process to convert an analog signal into digital and, when it reaches its destination, decoding;
* entails the need to synchronize the times of the transmitter and those of the receiver.