What process is involved in converting analog inputs to digital signals for transmission?

The process of converting analog inputs to digital signals for transmission primarily involves sampling. Sampling is the method of measuring the amplitude of an analog signal at discrete intervals, or samples, to create a digital representation of that analog wave. This is the critical first step in digital signal processing, as it transforms continuous data into a format that can be easily manipulated, stored, and transmitted.

After sampling, other steps such as quantization and encoding may take place to further refine the digital representation. Quantization involves mapping the sampled values to a finite set of levels, which can lead to some loss of information, while encoding converts these quantized values into a binary format suitable for transmission. However, sampling is fundamentally the first action that allows an analog signal to be represented in a digital form. This foundational step is essential in the fields of telecommunications, audio engineering, and many other areas where analog to digital conversion is necessary.