What is PCM? This is what pulse code modulation

The abbreviation PCM means pulse code modulation. This is a pulse modulation method. This technology is mainly used in digitized telephone networks. PCM is one of several types of modulation, which have different advantages and disadvantages. Usually, the term PCM is also used for an uncompressed data format.

What PCM means

You usually come across the term PCM when dealing with audio equipment. Here, the abbreviation stands for pulse code modulation.

1. PCM is one of many pulse modulation methods.
2. With this method, a time- and value-continuous analog signal is converted into a time- and value-discrete digital signal.
3. With PCM, several messages are interleaved in time and then transmitted over a common channel.
4. To transmit the signal almost interference-free, it is always reprocessed on the transmission path.
5. The process is used in communications technology, video technology and audio technology.
6. The advantage of a digital signal coding is mainly the higher interference tolerance. In addition, after the conversion, the digital signal can be easily stored, processed and transmitted.
7. For this you need a high data transmission rate, which is a disadvantage.
8. Very often the term PCM is used for an uncompressed data format. This describes the structure of an audio file.
9. So if a file ends with the format ".pcm", then it is raw data.