transferring files to external devices

Awhile back I read something about file degradation when transferring files to and fro external devices (HD/flash/cellphone).. but is this true? I know files can be degraded by zipping them, but if you cut/paste an entire file(s) directly to another drive, should I still worry about losing quality??

I want to know because I'm kind of an audiophile, and have had to transfer files in the past without much choice.

If it's a straight digital-to-digital, bit by bit transfer the resultant file should be identical to the source file. No loss of quality.

If you are doing any kind of file conversion or passing through an analog intermediate step, then it can degrade.

As far as audio goes, if you copy a WAV file to an MP3 file there will be some degradation -- how much depends on the degree of compression. If you then convert the MP3 back to WAV you will not, and cannot, get back the quality you lost.

When you say digital-to-digital, do you mean from computer to external device and vice-versa? Can you tell me what you mean by analog?

Take this picture of a puppy for example:

Let's pretend that I have got to have this picture with me wherever I go. If I keep transferring this photo back-and-forth between my computer and my cellphone every day for a month, or even a year, will this photo still retain its original quality in size and bytes? I don't see any reason why it couldn't possibly look the same.

I think the best way to answer your question is to refer you to Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_loss

Read the section under Digital generation loss.



If you're not converting formats and if your hardware, software and physical connections are all working properly, then the hundredth (or thousandth, etc.) generation should be bit-by-bit identical to the source.

in theory, there is "always" some loss of data, though it is so minimal, you will never ever have any problems. If you were to transfer a file say, 10,000 times, it may be corrupted at the end of it, but simply transfering it to an external drive? no. it wont. Even if you copy it again and again, no. To cause data corruption, you would need it transfered so many times more then you can even physically do, or an external source (like bad thumb drive etc)