An audio signal is an analog or digital representation of sound, typically as an electrical voltage. Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and various other digital signals. The majority of applications today require the conversion from analog to digital or vice versa at one point or another in the signal chain. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), Sample Rate Conversion, Power Amplification, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Transmission components. The primary usefulness of digital audio is the ability to store, retrieve and transmit signals without any loss of quality.

Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion. Video systems have additional needs for Signal Conditioning, Protection, Filtering and Video Switching requirements.

Transmisson needs for Audio and Video vary from short range to long distance, over wireless or wired links. Avnet Memec offers solutions for the following protocols to enable transmission over generic busses - USB 3.0, PCI Express, and Firewire - and proprietary solutions for very long distance over Ethernet and coax. In the wireless world, Bluetooth and it’s more recent low energy variant are provided alongside proprietary ISM band RF solutions.