What is analog-to-digital conversion and how is it used in sound reproduction?

Question: Explain the concept of analog-to-digital conversion and how it is applied in sound reproduction. Answer: Analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) is the process of converting continuous analog signals, such as sound waves, into discrete digital signals represented by binary code (0s and 1s). The process involves several steps: 1) Sampling the analog signal at a constant rate (sample rate); 2) Quantization, where the sampled signal is assigned discrete values; 3) Encoding, where the quantized values are converted into binary code; 4) Storage and transmission of digital data in various forms such as CDs and online streaming; and 5) Digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) for playback, where the digital signal is decoded back into an analog signal to reproduce the original sound.