FM encoding

Encoding

FM encoding uses a simple system to encode the original data in such a way that every bit of data will contain at least one transition, ensuring there are enough transitions during a given period for a successful clock recovery. To do this, it operates with a basic data period twice that of the maximum frequency of the recording media. These are known as "clock windows", with up to one clock transition and one data transition per window. Since each bit of data requires two minimum times, FM encoding stores about half the amount that is theoretically possible on that media.