transfering digital audio using PC soundcards (jul 1999)

[chrisNova777]

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul99/articles/pcmusician.htm

Musicians now tend to take for granted the multitude of possible software manipulations available to transform digital audio in ever-more interesting or bizarre ways. However, most expect that when they transfer a digital audio file each bit of data in the original file will remain intact. This perception hasn't always been the case -- in the past, those more used to analogue recording would refuse to work from a digital copy, on the grounds that the original is always better!

Today, in many people's eyes digital audio is perfect. When they copy a track or complete album of songs from a DAT or Minidisc recorder to a PC they expect an identical version to appear on their hard drive, from where it can be written to a blank CD-R disc using a CD writer. But while many such transfers are indeed bit copies of the original, this isn't always the case. If you look carefully on most soundcard packaging you won't find a claim of bit-for-bit digital transfers. There may, for instance, be claims of 'highest possible audio quality', but no guarantees. This might seem ludicrous to seasoned professionals who take such things for granted.