PCM

1 7.1

A way to turn sound into numbers so CDs or phones can store it

noun
/piː siː ɛm/

Specialized

: PCM

The recording provided for analysis was single-channel PCM with a sampling frequency of 8 kHz and 16-bit quantization.

Examples

It could open and save audio in uncompressed PCM format (.wav), including CD quality audio.

Academic text (2008)
Linear PCM audio

Blog text (4)
And but PCM had a transformative impact on telemetry.
However, this apparent weakness is actually one of PCM's greatest strengths.
The 744T reads uncompressed PCM audio at 16 or 24 bits, with sample rates between 32 and 192 kHz.

Blog text (13)
PCM is a method of PCM converting analog signals into digital form by sampling, commonly used in audio recordings.
The audio quality from PCM recordings is often better than that of compressed formats.
In telecommunications, PCM allows for the efficient transmission of voice signals over digital networks.

Synonyms

digitization

vsPCM

Specialized

5 4.6

To turn paper, photos, or sounds into computer files

is a specific sampling and quantizing method used in audio and telecom

Surface Forms

PCM singular

PCMs plural

Morphology

PCM = P + C + M

PCM is an initialism for 'pulse-code modulation' and is not analyzable into meaningful English morphemes for learners, so its letters do not transparently convey the word's meaning.

Etymology

PCM comes from the phrase pulse-code modulation. Think of it like taking a pulse meaning 'heartbeat', turning it into a code meaning 'numbers', and modulation meaning 'change to the signal', so PCM is a method to turn sound into numbers to send or store clearly.