A/D Converter (ADC)

An A/D (analog to digital) converter is an electronic device whose function is to convert analog voltages into a digital representation of electrical ones and zeros that can be stored, manipulated, and later retrieved or converted back to analog. In the domain of audio recording, these converters are found built into virtually all digital audio products such as DAT machines and digital signal processors. There are also a variety of high-quality standalone converter boxes that will accept line- or mic-level analog signals and output digital equivalents, which can then be input directly into a digital device.