PCM in Digital Communication: Understanding Sampling, Quantization & Encoding
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) In this blog, we’ll explore the fundamentals of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), a widely used technique for converting analog signals into digital form. PCM is the backbone of many digital communication systems, including audio, telephony, and media streaming. PCM converts the continuous-time, continuous-amplitude analog signals into discrete-time, discrete-amplitude digital signals, allowing for more reliable and noise-resistant communication compared to traditional analog methods. The PCM process involves three key steps at the transmitter side: sampling, quantization, and encoding. By converting signals into digital bits, PCM facilitates error detection, correction, and encryption, making it indispensable in modern communication systems such as telephony, broadcasting, and digital audio We'll break down its core step i.e the processes that are involved at the transmitter end — Sampling, Quantization, and Encoding —to understand how continuous sig...