Delta conversion is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈdɛltə kənˈvɜːʃən/. The first syllable, "delta," is spelled with the letter "d" followed by the vowel sound "ɛ." The second syllable, "con," is spelled with the letter "c" followed by the vowel sound "ɑ." The third syllable, "ver," is spelled with the letter "v" followed by the vowel sound "ɜ." The fourth syllable, "sion," is spelled with the letters "s," "i," "o," and "n" to represent the sound "ʃən."
Delta conversion is a digital signal processing technique used to encode and compress audio signals. It is a type of differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) where the difference between a predicted sample and the actual sample is encoded and transmitted instead of the raw sample value. This method, also known as delta modulation, reduces the amount of data needed to represent the audio signal.
In the delta conversion process, the incoming audio signal is first compared to a predicted value generated by the encoder. The difference, or delta, between the predicted and the actual sample is then quantized and encoded into binary data. The quantization step size determines the level of accuracy and signal resolution. The encoded data, or delta value, is then transmitted or stored.
At the decoder, the delta value is combined with the predicted sample again to reconstruct the original audio signal. By transmitting only the difference between consecutive samples, delta conversion achieves higher compression ratios compared to PCM coding techniques, which transmit the entire sample value. However, this compression comes at the cost of reduced audio fidelity, especially for complex or high-frequency signals.
Delta conversion is commonly used in voice recording, low-bit-rate audio streaming, and telecommunication systems where the priority is efficient data transmission rather than high-quality audio reproduction. The technique finds application in various digital voice communication systems, including cellular networks, VoIP, and digital radio systems.
The etymology of the word "delta conversion" can be broken down as follows:
1. Delta: The term "delta" comes from the Greek letter Δ (delta). In mathematics and science, delta is often used to represent change or difference. It is derived from the Phoenician letter "dalet" which means "door".
2. Conversion: The word "conversion" originates from the Latin word "conversio", which means "a turning around" or "change". It is derived from the verb "convertere" which means "to turn around" or "to transform".
Therefore, "delta conversion" can be understood as a process or method of transforming or changing data by measuring the difference or change between two values.