词条 | compact disc |
释义 | compact disc recording Introduction (CD) a molded plastic disc containing digital data that is scanned by a laser beam for the reproduction of recorded sound (musical sound) and other information. Since its commercial introduction in 1982, the audio CD has almost completely replaced the phonograph disc for high-fidelity recorded music. Coinvented by Philips Electronics N.V. and Sony Corporation in 1980, the compact disc has expanded beyond audio recordings into other storage-and-distribution uses, notably for computers (CD-ROM) and entertainment systems (videodisc). This article briefly describes the physical characteristics and performance of the audio compact disc. For descriptions of machine-readable discs containing multimedia or video data, see the articles CD-ROM and videodisc. Mechanical features Physical characteristics ![]() ![]() Recording (digital sound recording) and replication The production of a CD begins with a digital tape master supplied by the recording studio. The information on this tape is used to modulate a beam of light from a blue laser as it traces a spiral path on the surface of a spinning glass disc. The glass is coated with a photosensitive material that dissolves where it is exposed to laser pulses, forming the pits. This “glass master” is coated with a thin layer of nickel to form a “metal master,” and the metal master in turn is used to produce a number of “mothers.” Each mother serves as the master for several metal “stampers,” onto which molten polycarbonate is injected for molding into clear plastic discs. Each disc is exposed to a stream of vaporized or atomized aluminum, which forms the reflective layer, and is then coated with the protective acrylic layer. The entire production process is carried out under conditions of laboratory-like cleanliness and control. Playback ![]() Analog versus digital sound Sampling In analog sound recording, such as that on phonograph discs, audiocassettes, and standard audiotapes, an analog of the source audio waves is physically produced. Playback then requires an abrasive physical device to literally trace the recorded sound wave. Digital sound recording, such as that on compact discs, videodiscs, and CD-ROMs, instead involves taking multiple discrete measurements of the voltage levels of the continuous source audio waves, a process known as sampling. The most common sampling rate is 44.1 kilohertz (kHz), or 44,100 times per second, which guarantees at least two measurements of any humanly audible sound wave. (The typical sound range audible to a person is 20 Hz to 20 kHz.) The accuracy of the recorded voltage measurements depends critically on the number of binary digits (bits (bit)) used to record the measurements. More bits enable finer distinctions to be made in audio voltage levels and, in turn, enable a closer approximation of the original sound wave. The industry standard of 16 bits is sufficient to produce an audibly smooth curve with very little distortion. For even greater fidelity, music studios sometimes use 24-bit encodings for their master tapes. Because the recorded bits are read from the internal reflective layer of the CD by a laser, the disc remains untouched by any physical object and thus does not degrade under normal use. Dynamic range The number of bits determines the maximum attainable dynamic range. Dynamic range is the ratio of the loudest undistorted sound to the quietest discernible sound, expressed in decibels, that a system is capable of producing. The compact disc's dynamic range is about 90 decibels, compared with about 70 decibels on the best phonograph discs, thus accounting for the distinct, clear sound obtained from even the cheapest CD players. Nevertheless, some audiophiles maintain that the best phonograph recordings deliver subtle musical overtones that are almost invariably lost in the digitization process. Other digital discs Laserdiscs and CD-ROMs Because any type of information—not just audio—can be digitized, other forms of digital discs have been produced. Among them are the larger (120 to 300 mm 【4.7 to 11.8 inches】) laserdisc (videodisc), or videodisc, which combines digital audio and analog video data, and the CD-ROM. (ROM is an abbreviation for “read-only memory.”) CD-ROM discs are identical in appearance to audio CDs, but they must be read by a computer, and they generally contain up to 680 megabytes of computer programs and data, rather than just audio or video data. DVD ![]() ![]() |
随便看 |
|
百科全书收录100133条中英文百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容开放、自由的电子版百科全书。