IT: Information

# 4.2.2 Microphone input subsystem

We'll now move on to consider the microphone input subsystem.

## Activity 10

Is the output from the microphone an analogue or a digital signal?

## Discussion

The output from a microphone is an analogue electrical signal. Just as sound in the air involves continuous pressure variations over a continuous range, so the voltage from the microphone varies continuously over a continuous range.

Because I am considering here a digital camcorder, the analogue audio signal will be converted to a digital signal, and this is the main function of the microphone input subsystem. The digital audio signal might also be compressed, and put into a standard format.

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