What is the process called when an audio signal is converted into binary information for storage and manipulation in Pro Tools?

The process of converting an audio signal into binary information for storage and manipulation in Pro Tools is known as analog to digital conversion. This is a fundamental operation in digital audio systems where sound waves (which are analog signals) are sampled at specific intervals to create a digital representation of the audio. During this conversion, the analog waveform is captured and translated into a series of discrete values that can be understood and manipulated by digital systems, such as computers running Pro Tools.

Through analog to digital conversion, the fidelity and quality of the original audio signal are preserved within its digital form, allowing users to edit, mix, and produce audio with great precision. This is essential for any digital audio workstation (DAW), as it allows for various editing techniques, effects, and processing that would not be directly feasible with an analog signal.