Re: [ARSCLIST] Sampling Theory (was Fred Layn's post on the Studer list re: Quantegy)

[Dave Bradley <db65@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I find it interesting that people point to subjective studies about what
can be sensed above 20 KHz, or above 15 KHz for that matter, and say that
because digital doesn't go there it's inferior. Take note that the
cartridge on your turntable isn't going there either, and with good reason,
the vinyl that the stylus is being dragged through can't reproduce up there
either. There may be harmonics up there, but analog isn't delivering it. So
if the problem is that digital isn't giving you something which you can't
hear, but can sense, keep in mind that analog isn't giving that to you either.

The fact of the matter is that a pure sinewave, when digitized properly,
and then played back through a proper DAC will give you that same pure
sinewave again. It doesn't give you stepped response. It doesn't give you a
triangle or square wave. It gives you that pure sinewave.  Just because
zooming in on the waveform in your favorite DAW software shows you
individual sample values and a less than smooth wave form doesn't mean that
the playback will be that way.  Keep in mind that in the end, what you are
hearing is analog generated from a set of digital instructions or
samples.  You are still hearing analog.