In analog recording, cumulative deterioration of signal quality introduced as a consequence of limitations of the recording electronics and storage medium, when successive copies of an original recording are made, each from the preceding copy. Note 1: Examples of signal deterioration attributable to generation loss are increased distortion, increased noise, change in frequency response, and change in the relative phase of one frequency component with respect to another. Note 2: As a specific example, in the recording of television baseband signals, generation loss may manifest itself in the loss of fine detail, color distortion, erratic synchronization, etc. In audio recording, generation loss may manifest itself as audible distortion or loss of frequency response. Note 3: Generation loss is limited to analog recording because digital recording and reproduction may be performed in a manner that is essentially free from generation loss. Digital signals may be reshaped before being rerecorded, so successive generations are extremely faithful to one another, with possible exceptions attributable primarily to occasional uncompensated flaws that may be present in the recording medium. The degree to which this affects the outcome (signal quality) depends on the specific recording technique involved, but it is usually negligible. In digital recording, essentially all of the distortion introduced in the recording and playback process takes place in (a) the analog-to-digital conversion that occurs during the initial recording, and (b) the digital-to-analog process that occurs during playback. Note 4: Generation loss in digital recordings can quickly become non-negligible unless all transfers of the recording take place solely in the digital domain and lossless compression/decompression is used.