This, in turn, will result in distortion, so clock timing accuracy is critical in maintaining audio quality. If the clock timing varies, the audio samples will potentially be captured (recorded) or reconstructed (replayed), or both, at the wrong time.
At its simplest, then, the clock identifies when each sample should be recorded or replayed - and we call that a 'word clock' - but in practice, it often also provides other useful information, such as identifying each encoded audio channel in multi-channel systems. The clock provides that timing information and allows the waveform to be reconstructed as an analogue signal correctly when required (assuming the sample rate is more than twice the highest frequency component of the audio signal being sampled).
Why do we need clocks? The simple answer is that to digitise a continuous analogue audio signal, it must be sampled at precise and regularly repeating intervals. I'm often asked how different devices should be clocked together, and whether a master clock unit of some kind will improve the overall performance of a digital system, so in this article I'll explain the basics of clocking and test some popular master clock units. Can an external clock signal really improve the performance of your digital audio devices? We put seven of the best master clocks through their paces to sort out the facts from the myths.ĭigital audio clocking is a topic that almost everyone involved in recording has heard of, but that few really understand.
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