PCM Basics
PCM analog-to-digital audio conversion can be complex, depending on the content being converted, the quality desired, and how the information is stored, transferred, and distributed. In basic terms, a PCM audio file is a digital interpretation of an analog sound wave. The goal is to replicate the properties of an analog audio signal as closely as possible. Analog-to-PCM conversion is accomplished via a process called sampling. Analog sound moves in waves, as opposed to PCM, which is a series of ones and zeros. To capture analog sound using PCM, specific points on the sound wave coming from a microphone or another analog audio source must be sampled. The amount of the analog waveform that is sampled at a given point (referred to as bits) is also part of the process. More sampled points in combination with larger sections of a sound wave sampled at each point means more accuracy is revealed on the listening end. For example, in CD audio, an analog waveform is sampled 44.1 thousand times per second (or 44.1 kHz), with points that are 16 bits in size (bit depth). In other words, the digital audio standard for CD audio is 44.1 kHz/16 bits.
PCM Audio and Home Theater
PCM is used in CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and other digital audio applications. When used in surround-sound applications, it’s often referred to as linear pulse code modulation (LPCM). A CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc player reads a PCM or LPCM signal off a disc and can transfer it in two ways:
By retaining the signal’s digital form and sending it to a home theater receiver via a digital optical, digital coaxial, or HDMI connection. The home theater receiver then converts the PCM signal to analog so that the receiver can send the signal through the amplifiers and to the speakers. The PCM signal must be converted to analog because the human ear hears analog audio signals. By converting the PCM signal back to analog form internally, and then transferring the re-created analog signal to a home theater or stereo receiver via standard analog audio connections. In this case, the stereo or home theater receiver does not have to perform any additional conversion for you to hear the sound.
Most CD players provide only analog audio output connections, so the PCM signal on the disc must be converted to analog by the player internally. However, some CD players (as well as almost all DVD and Blu-ray Disc players) can transfer the PCM audio signal directly, using the digital optical or digital coaxial connection option. In addition, most DVD and Blu-ray Disc players can transfer PCM signals via an HDMI connection. Check your player and stereo or home theater receiver for your connection options.
PCM, Dolby, and DTS
Another trick that most DVD and Blu-ray Disc players can do is to read undecoded Dolby Digital or DTS audio signals. Dolby and DTS are digital audio formats that use coding to compress the information so that it fits all the surround-sound audio information digitally onto a DVD or Blu-ray Disc. Usually, un-decoded Dolby Digital and DTS audio files are transferred to a home theater receiver for further decoding to analog, but there’s another option. Once they read signals off a disc, many DVD or Blu-ray Disc players also can convert Dolby Digital and DTS signals to uncompressed PCM, and then:
Pass that decoded signal directly to a home theater receiver via an HDMI connection, or Convert the PCM signal to analog for output via two or multichannel analog audio outputs to a home theater receiver that has the corresponding inputs.
Because a PCM signal is uncompressed, it takes up more bandwidth transmission space. As a result, if you’re using a digital optical or coaxial connection from your DVD or Blu-ray Disc player to a home theater receiver, there’s only enough room to transfer two channels of PCM audio. That situation is fine for CD playback, but for Dolby Digital or DTS surround signals that have been converted to PCM, you need to use an HDMI connection for full surround sound because it can transfer up to eight channels of PCM audio. For more on how PCM functions between a Blu-ray Disc player and a home theater receiver, look into Blu-ray Disc player audio settings: bitstream vs. PCM.
