PCM audio (Pulse Code Modulation) is a process that is utilized to convert analog audio signals that are represented by waveforms to digital audio signals which are represented by ones and zeros without neither compression nor loss of information. We will also compare it with Dolby Digital and Bitstream. In the process of sampling, we will consider the sampling rate ( 7) and the bit depth ( 6).įirst, we will define PCM audio, then we will explain how we go from analog to digital. The conversion from analog to digital PCM audio is done through a process called sampling ( 5). In basic terms, a PCM audio file is a digital interpretation of an analog sound wave ( 1) whose goal is to replicate the properties of an analog audio signal ( 3) as closely as possible to the original source ( 4), called fidelity ( 2).