Part 6/10:
Fast forward to our Sony digital audio processor from 1983, which exemplifies this idea. It can digitize audio at a sampling rate of 44.056 kHz—an odd number derived from compatibility between NTSC and PAL television standards—using either 14 or 16 bits of pulse-code modulation. The device outputs this data onto the scanlines of a video signal, allowing standard VCRs to record sound with impressive fidelity on regular videotape.
The Peculiarities of Recording and Playback
While seemingly straightforward, recording digital audio data on video format introduces complexities. Video signals have blanking intervals where no data can be stored. Consequently, the processor employs a buffer to manage this, ensuring smooth transitions while recording and retrieving digital audio without gaps.