A-Law

What Does A-Law Mean?

An A-law algorithm is a complex algorithm used in audio processing, and in digitizing analog signals. Its use in European engineering is contrasted with the mu-law algorithms used in American and Japanese engineering systems.

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Techopedia Explains A-Law

“A-law” is used to optimize the dynamic range of an analog signal. This type of design can be used to deliver voice or audio data with less bandwidth. These audio compression schemes are maintained by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Some of the benefits of these algorithmic solutions involve the ability to achieve resolution for the lower-amplitude signals while still delivering dynamic range, and the relatively small amount of processing power needed to decode signals compressed with A-law compressions.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…