How do analog and digital recordings start?

Analog and digital recordings both start with sound, as this is the primary substance they capture. In analog recording, sound waves are converted into physical changes in a medium, such as magnetic tape. Similarly, in digital recording, sound is captured as discrete samples of audio waves, which are then stored as binary data. This process begins with the sound being recorded by a microphone or other capturing device, which transforms acoustic energy into an electrical signal.

Starting with silence would imply that nothing is being captured initially, which does not represent how sound recording typically occurs. A digital signal is a result of the capturing process rather than the starting point, and feedback noise would be unintended sound that might interfere with the quality of the intended recording. Thus, the essence of both types of recording involves beginning with the actual sound to be documented.