Difference between Analog and Digital Signals | AddOhms #6

Learn the secret between Digital that people don't like to talk about at parties. Just what is it and how does it compare to Analog? We'll take a look using Clocks!
Links mentioned in video:
AddOhms Episode 5: www.addohms.com...
Adafruit ADXL377 Breakout board: www.adafruit.co...
Arduino (In case you need it): www.arduino.cc
Twitter: @addohms
www.addohms.com

[@CrystalRubyMoon]

My recording and engineering teacher said this: "Analog is a ramp, as digital is to stairs." I think that agrees with your video, so these really helped me.

[@jameswest6410]

Really great example!

[@frostjake1588]

I don't get it... is that in the shape or?

[@niveditar2910]

@@frostjake1588 I think she means that analogue signals are continuous(much like how a ramp moves) while digital signals are discontinuous or have specific ups and downs (like in the case of stairs)

[@didid3ksa]

Nivedita R discrete is more accurate than discontinues

[@cameronpaschal2484]

the shape if the wave yes

[@raenashaikh3377]

The clock analogy helped, thanks for this video!

[@silverjeanne]

That last sentence blew my mind though After all I am struggling with "nearly infinite" things but I got the concept, thanks!

[@diamony123]

so its basically works like PWM and a clock where intensity is replace with time using periods of Ons and Offs. a combination of rise to digital 1, stay at digital 1, or fall to digital 0. if you throw a ball up towards the sky, time and distance is to be considered . you will usualy end up with a ramp that = digital 010 in time for example. So its safe to say zeros and ones is more of an intended target voltage but since change don't happen instantly and time is continuously moving, we get a linear vector type wave.

[@Male_Parent]

I always thought it was like analogue out of 100% and digital 0% and 100%. Great video. Clarified it for me ☺

[@AddOhms]

I think you're describing Arduino's definition of "analogWrite." Which isn't really analog at all. It is pulse width modulation (PWM). Which is digital. You can create an "analog" waveform using an RC network. But most designs would just use an external DAC (digital to analog converter.)

[@Clementine_xvii]

Thanks, really fun video

[@Burak-pl1jl]

Couldn't be explained better! Thank you.

[@vejet]

Thanks for the explanation, I understand the difference much better now. Though I'm left wondering one thing. If Analog signals are continuously changing and digital signals are either rounded "up" or "down" into zero's or ones, wouldn't that mean that an analog signal is more accurate representation of a transmission than a digital signal? If that's the case, then why is digital transmission considered superior?

[@bald_engineer]

Rain Machika When a signal is transmitted, it becomes noisy. Keeping that noise out is difficult. By only transmitting a "HIGH" or "LOW", it takes a lot of noise to cause an error. (And they still do occur, but as much as if you used an analog signal.) In fact, if you go back to some early computers, attempts were made to make calculators that operated on analog signals. However, people didn't like that the decimal points would change as the machine heated up. Well, unless it was their bank account. And the direction only went up... ;)

[@psow4062]

Rain Machika In principle you are correct. Practically all signals in nature are analog - that means digital signal is actually an imperfect representation of some analog signal. The problem arises from the fact that every transmission (and every circuit in itself actually) is affected by noise to some degree. So noise immunity becomes a very important issue. When you transmit digital signal it doesn't really matter if for example at some point you receive 4V, 5V or 6V - it will still be recognized as logical "1". Many digital systems will additionally use error detection codes and resend the data if any error is detected. Now, with analog signal if at some point you receive 5.1V instead of 5.0V it is actually a big deal - the original signal just got distorted. Also it isn't possible to implement error detection codes for analog signals. So as you see analog transmissions and circuits are much more susceptible to noise. Even when you try very hard to eliminate noise (which quickly becomes difficult and costly) you will never receive *exactly* the same data that was send. With digital signals it is not only possible, but even not that hard - actually many systems today depend on it (like the internet). There are other reasons to prefer digital transmissions as well. For example in radio communication digital transmissions can take less bandwidth than analog and that is VERY important because useful spectrum is getting very crowded (there are less and less free frequencies for new transmissions). So that is in (not so) short why digital transmission is considered superior.

[@NataliesLife]

This was super helpful-- thank you!

[@davepollan]

Very helpful video. Best explanation I've seen yet. Thanks.

[@clintona1855]

Fantastic video. Cheers from Japan.

[@janinefawcett2077]

Good analogy.

[@thefinesofthetime2]

So a good analogy would be Minecraft is digital and real life is Analog.

[@mohammedviso2269]

Thank you so much for this

[@hizay713]

Thank you so much for this! Great explanation! Keep going 😄

[@OctaveStudioNamchi]

Thank you so much Sir...

[@LittleBritish]

Thanks for a great explanation

[@ffhashimi]

Fantastic! very useful; I subscribed! keep the good job:)

[@gouthamgr5839]

Fantastic explanation....:)

[@shorikumagai014]

thank you! this really helps

[@sudhamsr2676]

Is there any sensor which is having both analog and digital components

[@thedoctorate]

Thank you!

[@shelovster3208]

nice explanation!!!😁😁😁

[@kmelons]

Thank you!! This was very useful :)

[@tobes9074]

The clock analogy is a nice representation of a phasor. Pew pew

[@abdulsadek8911]

That was very helpful

[@agstechnicalsupport]

Great introduction into analog versus digital, thank you !

[@anant115]

What about analog clocks in which the second hand moves every second? the second hand doesnt move continuously, it stops every second... soo this should be a digital?

[@AddOhms]

No

[@GGGONEXT67]

great video!

[@0xssff]

Thank you sir :)

[@jaderozner8535]

By the way I like the old analog phones, they sound much better and not irritating. Check this out: atrtape.com/nothing-sounds-like-tape/ Digital is ultimately a file containing a purely informational representation. It has no energetic attributes. Analog is created by magnetic domains, it can be compared to making a print, which is a perfect unbroken line. It is much more comparative to making art. Our digital world has created a place where you can make a limitless digital information file on everything and everyone, and apparently they are, as ED Snowden warns. Go with your feelings, how does the medium make you feel? Why do people think Mp3 is superior technology to a high end magnetic recording format? They are actually two different things, the Mp3 is a low -res digital archive of sound waves. So that demonstrates the level of understanding. Make more educational videos!!

[@josiahturner1433]

also whats the diference between 1g and 2g analog vs dig

[@sigmaballs_forever]

thank you. very useful

[@jayshah7827]

loved the video my g❣❣

[@cheekymonkey3929]

I'm sorry but when the weather is bad, forget getting a signal !!

[@akosrupp232]

great vid

[@sabrinamimouni8306]

OMG! That was freaking helpful. Thank you!!!

[@pekwalker]

So with the area between the High and the Low, is that why we use Pull Down or Pull Up resistors to make the 0's and 1's either / or?

[@AddOhms]

Kind of. Pull-Up and Pull-Down do force the signal to a known voltage. In that regard, it eliminates them "floating" in that unknown region. But the threshold bands are not the only reason floating pins are a problem. You might want to watch the couple of videos I have on pull-ups, starting with this one: kzbin.info?o=U&video_id=wxjerCHCEMg

[@user-kw2sp3gq4d]

yes but can you tell for example when a sound is digital or analog without knowing what it is in the very beginning?

[@AddOhms]

Obviously not.

[@snerketryne]

this was building up to a good video... when is next and +1

[@pattathari8518]

Great sir.... thanks 🤗

[@teech_23miles.percival48]

Thank you sir 👏👏

[@nusratlima964]

This was very helpful! Thank you and Continue to make Great videos

[@siddheshsakpal4286]

Sir but how to know that which device should be connected on analog pin and digital pin (in arduino)

[@caesar0075]

nice

[@szili76]

Finally i understand this black magic!

[@G3tthemracks]

I have an annsiment due for science about the differences between these two subjects do you mind makeing a video o that by any chance?

[@AddOhms]

You're asking for a video about the differences between analog and digital, on a video titled "Differences between Analog and Digital?"

[@SharkRockstar]

@@AddOhms niiice comeback xD

[@jnc5255]

Thanks

[@darklight898]

AddOhms i have an mp3 song in my cellphone.it is saved in binary.I transfer it to another mobile using bluetooth.The other cell phone recieves and saves it as binary too.So the bluetooth signal was analogue or binary? "If" we say the bluetooth signal is analogue can we say , storage of signals/data should be called digital while their travel should be called analog? in simple words does data travel in analog form or digital?

[@AddOhms]

mashhood syed Remember that Digital is an Analog Signal, with predefined levels. So the RF signal that Bluetooth (and WiFi and Cellular, etc) work on, is an Analog Signal. The signal is modulated (changed) in a way to represent symbols (digital values). Those symbols are turned into 1s and 0s. Protocols like Bluetooth follow the OSI model. So each layer has a name. So the physical layer (which is what the RF is called) is analog. The symbols are the transport layer. The 1s and 0s are the data layer. The bluetooth commands are the application layer.

[@psow4062]

mashhood syed Simple answer is that song is stored as digital data and also transmitted with bluetooth as digital data (analog transmission or copying can't produce EXACT copy of original signal - the copy would have inferior quality to the original). The song signal only ever becomes analog when you are playing it. The digital signal is converted by DAC (digital to analog converter) and that analog signal (after filtration and amplification) goes to your speakers/headphones.

[@splagyetsi3287]

Your explanation reminds me of calculus. The digital being more like and integral of the sine wave displayed

[@thaddayyus]

Go watch Transmission of sound and go to the part where they say DR. ZUCC and repeat that 1,000,000 times

[@ipodtouch470]

It also reminded me of calculus with analog being the integral and digital being a finite number of rectangles (riemann sum)

[@feli_sara]

Digital tech is Analog!? man... this is like when I discovered that Santa never existed. Thank you for showing the truth

[@nirajgupta9982]

Great video :) My Question: Instead of having High and Low voltage to represent digital signals... why isn't there just a voltage to represent "1" and NO voltage to represent "0"? Wouldn't this cause even less possibility for confusing the two?

[@nirajgupta9982]

+Niraj Gupta I just want to add that if no voltage is being sent instead of a low one, wouldn't that save energy costs and even shorten the amount of time it takes send the signal?

[@AddOhms]

+Niraj Gupta "No voltage" and "voltage being sent" aren't correct. Voltage is a difference in potential. So if there is no pressure on one side and no pressure on the other, you get 0 volts. Zero does not mean "nothing."

[@nirajgupta9982]

Okay thanks. I see what you mean now. So to rephrase the question: Instead of having a moment where there is low voltage above 0 on both sides, couldn't there be a pause where there is 0 volts? Or at the very least, couldn't the representation of "low voltage" be as discrete as possible?

[@AddOhms]

+Niraj Gupta The range is because no circuit is perfect. That's the point of digital. You define a range for a HIGH or LOW value. So LOW will never be exactly 0 volts. If there were only ideal circuits and no noise, you we wouldn't need or use digital.

[@nirajgupta9982]

I understand now. Thank you.

[@giaoductuthien]

Which proram did you use to create video? Thank you!

[@AddOhms]

Nguyễn Quốc Uy Combination of Motion, Final Cut Pro, Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects.

[@giaoductuthien]

wow, quite complicate for newbie like me. Do u have a video show how to do that? Thank you

[@kazim278]

didnt get it properly am sory :/

[@MINEWISE]

3:49 funny one, but yeah its understandable

[@burakkok4894]

can u explain that how to work ''analog to digital'' or '' digital to analog'' ?

[@homobob3475]

you mean how to work a analog to digital converter?

[@burakkok4894]

:D yes

[@8080256998]

for providing internet service which one is best?

[@luciaandrade6166]

digital

[@angeldickson1649]

I have learn something

[@SalarAzad]

Very nice explanation, thank you!

[@rukiaadam5947]

Very helpful

[@swallsskylar]

any basic similarities? My 6th period science teacher has assigned this video with a worksheet and i cant seem to find any similarities no matter how hard i look, and i refuse to go back to the study island lesson!! XD

[@AddOhms]

Seems like there was one specifically mentioned in the video.

[@alexanderquilty5705]

3:08, Keep in mind that 0 Volts is ideal, it’s usually between 0.3 - 0.7 Volts, or a Digital Low. That is okay, as long as you do not enter the forbidden zone in between the device High or Low (something like 3V for example, however this is different for any device) there’s a point in digital electronics where the transistor is in between a High or Low state and will usually switch back and forth really quick, or not work all together.

[@AddOhms]

That’s the exact point I made in the video.

[@munzirkarim]

I like it.. very useful to understand the difference between analog and digital.. I SUBSCRIBED

[@embeddedbastler6406]

2:00 Peak voltage isn't +-120V. It's 120v * sqrt(2)

[@TheOnePhillip]

In analogue television even if you didnt receive the signal if the signal bounced off of buildings? Youd still get a picture. In digital? Today if your antenna doesnt receive all the ones and zeros? You dont get a picture.

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

Analog TV, you get "snow" (weak signal interfered by static) or ghosting (reflected signal leading to a double image). Digital TV you do not get this as all ones in the weak or reflected signals become zeros, so you get a good picture or no picture

[@creaturalshade7054]

So is a quantum computer technology analog?

[@AddOhms]

Nope. Still digital.

[@mikelemon5109]

2:22 this is not true as long as the signal is around 5V the arduino can in it with a 1200-1250 points of resolution

[@AddOhms]

The comment in the video is that the signal won't work directly on a digital pin. Of course, you can use the analog inputs. However, I'm not sure what you mean by "1200 to 1250 points of resolution." The analog inputs on the Arduino are only 1024 steps, which with a 5V reference is about 4.9mV of resolution per step.

[@daviddavidson2357]

A clock is a bad example as all quartz clocks use a quartz crystal oscillating at 32.768KHz. This binary number is then fed through a series of flip-flops which causes the second hand to move, usually with a solenoid, occasionally with a motor.

[@AddOhms]

I’m sure that’s what everyone thinks when they see an analog clock.

[@daviddavidson2357]

@@AddOhms If it's a clock that runs off a synchronous motor connected to mains electricity it's analog. If it's quartz it's digital whether it has hands, LEDs or an LCD.

[@sef2273]

So Sine wave Vs Square wave .

[@AddOhms]

Square waves are not just digital. Also, they are the sum of multiple sine waves …

[@AddOhms]

Also also, sine waves transmit digital information. For example, the RF used by mobile devices.

[@koalayt108]

i like it

[@stepanhaschka3994]

What's up with the pun with stopping time and looking at the voltage?

[@karlxu1548]

Digital signal is actually analog. It's just specific range of voltage has defined meanings.

[@AddOhms]

Did you even watch the video? Or did you just click on the link and jump straight to the comments? I said exactly that at 3:48 ...

[@karlxu1548]

@@AddOhms Ah sorry. I was learning by commenting it done. should have format the comment in a better way.

[@AddOhms]

Sorry. I misunderstood. I’m used to many trolls who statement the point of the video without watching it. I was wrong in this case.

[@karlxu1548]

@@AddOhms thanks for the explanation. Amazing video BTW. It helps me understand analog signal and digital signal concept in a much more clear way.

[@C-TOS]

cool

[@embreeza]

So like analog is an integral and digital is taking blocks and under a curve and adding them to “approximate” the more precise integral

[@AddOhms]

No.

[@kumarratnam2360]

so NYC video

[@AddOhms]

+Kumar Ratnam What does "NYC Video" mean?

[@AdamEbelgccengineering]

Analog makes it easy to build a radio, but if you want to build a digital radio, it's going to be a pain in the neck to put the tiny parts using tweezers, and the chipset has to be installed. Then you must set up the software which will probably fail on you.

[@AddOhms]

All radios use RF, which is high frequency analog. There is a carrier wave that is modulated to transmit data. Modulation formats can be analog like FM and AM. Or they can be digital like FSK or QAM. The principle is the same, in the digital modulation there are defined levels for the modulation which correspond to symbols. (Symbols are like bits.) For that reason, most of your statement is not valid. The complexity of building a radio to transmit or receive digital data is not much different than an "analog" radio. You might be mixing up concepts with the idea of a software-defined-radio (SDR). In which case, it is just a wideband digital receiver that uses DSP to decode the carrier and modulation, instead of discrete circuits.

[@fatihkan2601]

digital needs software to understand what's going on. analog just follows the path to get it worked. No need for software. Analog just works for years without questioning. Analog is the best for certain tasks. analog won't catch viruses. just works.

[@AddOhms]

You can build digital circuits without software. Analog hardware can contain simple digital controls.

[@fatihkan2601]

No I don't think so. Then it wouldn't be analog anymore. Digit means it contains software to find its path. But the device can be both analog and digital. Digital means with software. Software means 1's and 0's. Tell me an example digital device that can work without software.

[@AddOhms]

Don’t be ridiculous. Digital circuits and devices existed before microcontroller became cheap and popular.

[@fatihkan2601]

@@AddOhms okey.

[@fatihkan2601]

@@AddOhms Mine was just an opinion. You may be knowing better than I do.

[@joepbeusenberg]

At 2:00 the voltage reads "0-2.76". 😊 Though technically correct, it seems a bit weird.

[@derroz3157]

Men are Digital and Women are Analog not the other way around

[@billycen9501]

+2

[@bendesmond4880]

Science class, anyone?

[@josiahturner1433]

2:00 looks like sin(x) on a graph

[@AddOhms]

+Josiah Turner It is.

[@josiahturner1433]

+AddOhms I don't even know what sine is I just played with a graphing calculator :P

[@nirajgupta9982]

+Josiah Turner I think it looks more like cos(x) :P

[@AddOhms]

+Niraj Gupta It's cos(x) shifted by 90 degrees.

[@nirajgupta9982]

oh okay. I haven't studied trig yet, but that sounds familiar. So they're inverses?

[@siddheshsakpal4286]

Why did we need to divide signal into 2 types

[@shanilka_wariyapperuma]

So it means Amplitude of analogue signal is affect to the data But Amplitude of digital signal is not?

[@AddOhms]

Vertical noise immunity is the primary benefit of defining digital levels.

[@editorava1922]

really Nolan really

[@homobob3475]

So the difference is that analog is more precise?

[@mythocrat]

Well, the signals are continuos and precise, but I reckon that the complexity is low.

[@homobob3475]

República Mitocrática its flexibility you mean?

[@mythocrat]

homo bob I meant "complexity", because the a digital circuit is way more complex than an analog one, considering the voltage variation inside the circuit and, as you said, the flexibility of signals. Even if we consider the analog and digital technologies, the digital techs a more complex in its circuits and also more efficient (in space, energy use, in benefits etc.). It was what I understood so far.

[@homobob3475]

República Mitocrática kk

[@onurolce]

I understand that analog is limitless precise.

[@genosargente3861]

you could use a graph saying that you can have infinite possibilities for two points on the graph

[@ecedlnsskn]

And analog clocks much slower when you looked at it

[@AddOhms]

Especially next to a tea kettle.

[@ElisaWulanSari]

izin pinjam vidionya kak untuk saya riiview

[@AddOhms]

Denied.

[@captainamerica6521]

electric companies need to learn this if you opt out of digital smartmeters they charge you for analog meter extra 25 a month and meter isnt analog its digital smart meter still!

[@TheMr0450]

poor explanation

[@AddOhms]

The stats disagree.

[@munzirkarim]

I like it.. very useful to understand the difference between analog and digital.. I SUBSCRIBED