What is the benefit of using digital audio over analog audio in AV systems?

Using digital audio over analog audio in AV systems offers greater flexibility in editing, which is a significant advantage in a variety of applications. Digital audio can be easily manipulated without degrading the sound quality, allowing for tasks such as cutting, rearranging, and combining audio clips with precision. This is particularly beneficial in professional environments like film and music production, where the ability to edit audio tracks seamlessly can enhance the overall creative process.

Moreover, digital audio can be processed using software to apply effects, improve quality, or integrate with other digital systems and devices, facilitating advanced production techniques that are more challenging to achieve with analog formats. Digital formats also allow for the retention of high fidelity through multiple generations of editing, unlike analog formats which can suffer from signal degradation.

In contrast, analog audio is more susceptible to interference and suffers from issues like noise and distortion, making it less viable for precise editing tasks. The effort required to edit analog recordings can prove unwieldy due to the physical limitations of tape and vinyl mediums. Digital audio's ability to be stored and manipulated in a binary format opens doors to a range of capabilities that are vital in modern AV installations and productions.