A/D and D/A conversion

There's no doubt about it: digital systems are 'in' and analogue systems are on the way 'out'. Even the audio field which used to be a sanctuary for analogue adepts has begun to be 'digitised', as the article on 'digital audio', published in Elektor in June 1981, pointed out. However revolutionary the latest technological developments may seem, they all have a single, common purpose: data transfer. As everyone knows, it is preferable to transfer data in digital, rather than analogue, form for a variety of reasons. But until quite recently, the technology required just wasn't economically viable.