Compression algorithms for speech, audio, still images, and video are quite complicated and, more importantly, nearly always lossy. Thus, samples often change dramatically once they’re decompressed.

Lossless data compression of digital audio signals is useful when it is necessary to minimize the storage space or transmission bandwidth of audio data while still maintaining archival quality.

Lossless or lossy: If you have big data, know what type of compression to use Your email has been sent Illustration: Lisa Hornung/iStockPhoto Must-read big data coverage What Powers Your Databases?

Q Would you explain the difference between downloading a CD to a computer using lossless vs. lossy compression formats? Would I be able to hear the difference using headphones? Is there a recommended ...

Part 2 benchmarks the compression algorithms. It will be published July 20. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are generating a huge and rapidly growing flood ...

Lossless compression is used for applications where the original data must be fully restored following decompression. Examples of applications requiring lossless compression include network data, ...