Computer and Internet (Q&A)

Answer:

ADC generally stands for Analogue-to-Digital Converter. It also stands for Apple Display Connector.

Analogue-to-Digital Converter - This type of Converter is required when an Analogue input is needed to be converted into a Digital Input. Computers can only process digital information so they require a Digital Input. Therefore, if an analogue input is sent to a computer, an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) is required. This device can take an analogue signal, such as an electrical current, and digitize it into a binary format that the computer can understand. A common use for an ADC is to convert analogue video to a digital format. For example, video recorded on 8mm film or a VHS tape is stored in an analogue format. In order to transfer the video to a computer, the video must be converted to a digital format. This can be done using an ADC video conversion box, which typically has composite video inputs and a Firewire output. Some digital camcorders that have analogue inputs can also be used to convert video from analogue to digital.

ADCs may also be used to convert analogue audio streams. For example, if you want to record sounds from a microphone, the audio must be converted from the microphone's analogue signal into a digital signal that the computer can understand. This is why all sound cards that have an analogue audio input also require an ADC that converts the incoming audio signal to a digital format. The accuracy of the audio conversion depends on the sampling rate used in the conversion process. Higher sampling rates provide a better estimation of the analogue signal, and therefore produce a higher-quality sound.

Apple Display Connector - Apple Display Connector was a proprietary video connector developed by Apple. It combined DVI, USB, and AC power into a single cable. Apple stopped producing computers with ADC ports in 2004 in favour of the standard DVI connection.

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