Common Uses Of Digital Signal Processing

Digital signal processing can do extraordinary things, but it also has simple uses. For example, when listening to music playlists, many players use DSP to ensure that there are no significant volume jumps between songs.

Analog to digital conversion and digital to analog conversion are another common use case for DSP. Usually, the conversion will be carried out in a dedicated DSP chip specifically designed for this purpose, called a DAC or AD/DA converter, depending on whether it only performs unidirectional conversion. Converting real-world audio signals into digital signals is inherently an art, so you will find some expensive converters in the market.

One use of DSP that you may encounter and often pay attention to is noise reduction. The combination of an external microphone on the headphones and digital signal processing can eliminate the sound around you.

The other side of the coin that also uses DSP is in transparent mode, as Apple said. This uses the same microphone that can eliminate noise, but instead of eliminating it, it amplifies the sound, making it easier for you to hear the surrounding environment.

Digital equalizers are another common use of digital signal processing. If you have ever used a music application on your phone or computer to adjust EQ, then this is the practical application of digital signal processing. When you adjust the slider, the processing will digitally amplify or decrease the amplitude of certain frequencies.