how are stereo signals recorded on records and CDs

Thank you for the explaination of the vinyl groove.

I wasn't really expecting a mechanical analogy for redbook CD, just wondering if someone could explain how the 1's and 0's work in general. I know the electrical signal is converted into a digital code, but what I don't know is how the bit packs fit in or if it's a single string of data or two parallel stings.

I read somewhere about a piece of equipment (maybe the PS Audio DAC?) that seperated the signal into seperate channel at transport and actually had seperate DACs for each channel. It made me wonder at what point, if ever, the two channels were put together or completely seperate.

Make any sense?

Really, you need to look it up. Stereo records are quite complex. You really only have one needle and one groove, so stereo records are never really true two chan reproduction. The stereo image is really faked somewhat and illusionary. IIRC, only the left chan. has all the signal. The right chan only has phase diff. from the left. They tried not to put too much info on the right side of the "V" groove because it could really cause distortion in the left chan. of the next goove over.