Analog and Digital Radio


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Tutorial Home >Music and Video >Image Editing >About Capturing Digital Video >Analog, DV, TV/Radio >Analog and Digital Radio

  Step 1:  Analog Radio

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All current radio, whether AM or FM is analog. This means that the signal is not composed of distinct digital "bits" which can be more easily separated from interference and static. Consequently, while current radio broadcast from nearby stations can be quite clear, those from distant stations whether AM or FM, are susceptible to static and other interference.
  Step 2:  FM vs. AM

Of the two formats, FM which stand for "Frequency Modulation" has more "bandwidth" which enables it to carry a better signal. Because of the superior quality of FM radio, most music programming is now broadcast over FM while AM, which stands for "Amplitude Modulation", has continued on with talk and sports shows for which its quality is more than adequate.
  Step 3:  Digital Radio Broadcast

While digital broadcast radio could offer improvement in quality, there is no current plan to implement a digital radio system. Although stations could benefit from offering better reception in their fringe areas, most listeners except those in the most remote areas have access to clear signals from their local stations and wouldn't benefit greatly from digital broadcast.
  Step 4:  Digital Satellite "Radio"

While there is no digital radio broadcast on the airwaves, digital radio does already exist. Satellite TV companies such as the Dish System offer multiple "channels" of audio-only music programming as part of their subscription packages. This is crystal clear audio and is also commercial-free. Each channel is also highly targeted toward a particular listening audience.
  Step 5:  Digital "Radio" Over the Web

While Web-based video is still saddled with severe quality problems, the data carrying capacity of regular modems can easily handle high-quality audio programming. Consequently, digital radio now exists on the Web and many people "tune in" to music, live programming, and other audio content on the Web now.