All recordings are quantized. With ‘analog’ tape the signal is generated from a stream of magnetic particles which are which are either magnetized, or not ( i.e. 10 or 0). As the tape passes over the head gap these pulses are integrated to produce a continuous signal. Usually with some ‘hiss’ noise. The wider the tape track and the faster it moves it moves the less the noise.
My understating is that these particles, and thus the pulses they cause, vary in size. But the recording itself is NOT a pure analog image of the original signal.
With digital the pulses are all the same size, and are converted to an analog signal electronically.
If there are enough bits, and they are saved retrieved accurately, the only issue is the accuracy of the DA process itself. I am not versed in the latest technology but I understand that is not an issue these days.
Also, I believe, if all the magnetic tape particles were the same size, “analog” tape would be equivalent to 1-bit digital encoding albeit with a different conversion process.
I would be interested to know (if there is someone out there who can tell us - approximately)
- The number of magnetic particles used to store 1 second of recording studio quality audio (stereo) on tape
- The number of bits used to store 1 second of a studio quality DSD audio (stereo)
- The number of PVC molecules (particles?) that impact the stylus for 1 second of LP audio (stereo)