Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Audio signal
open-in-new
<p>An audio signal is a representation of <a href="/facts/Sound/DlKXlPuF">sound</a>, typically using either a changing level of electrical <a href="/facts/Voltage/EN2po6N2">voltage</a> for <a href="/facts/Analog_signal/xDbb4uB5">analog signals</a> or a series of <a href="/facts/Binary_numbers/a6JDSRPs">binary numbers</a> for <a href="/facts/Digital_signal_(signal_processing)/bCtTHxre">digital signals</a>. Audio signals have frequencies in the <a href="/facts/Audio_frequency/LzHtINcf">audio frequency</a> range of roughly 20 to 20,000 Hz, which corresponds to the lower and upper <a href="/facts/Human_hearing_range/QpkSANRw">limits of human hearing</a>. Audio signals may be <a href="/facts/Synthesizer/NrmdVrPa">synthesized</a> directly, or may originate at a <a href="/facts/Transducer/YS7zfv9d">transducer</a> such as a <a href="/facts/Microphone/7YWGlXCl">microphone</a>, <a href="/facts/Pickup_(music_technology)/Aeuuyvhm">musical instrument pickup</a>, <a href="/facts/Phonograph_cartridge/VcNQRYVT">phonograph cartridge</a>, or <a href="/facts/Tape_head/gSUoxWuz">tape head</a>. <a href="/facts/Loudspeaker/tqEjnJ2z">Loudspeakers</a> or <a href="/facts/Headphones/hLd5e4Kv">headphones</a> convert an electrical audio signal back into sound. </p><p><a href="/facts/Digital_audio/PgugcLAI">Digital audio</a> systems represent audio signals in a variety of digital formats. </p><p>An audio channel or audio track is an audio signal <a href="/facts/Communications_channel/MtlxEShV">communications channel</a> in a <a href="/facts/Data_storage_device/uCvJ6nrq">storage device</a> or <a href="/facts/Mixing_console/APIwbRBg">mixing console</a>. It is used in operations such as <a href="/facts/Multi-track_recording/PPtToh16">multi-track recording</a> and <a href="/facts/Sound_reinforcement/s480anBh">sound reinforcement</a>. </p>