The Sound Card By Scott Anderson

Definition of Sound Card A sound card, or audio card, is the computer software that controls the input and output of sound in a computer by converting the sound digitally to analog.

How The Sound Card Works The sounds that we use and make are referred to as analog. The computer cannot read these signals so it converts the analog of something into electric impulses. These impulses are then interpreted by your sound card, which is played at the click of a mouse.

Components of Sound Card

Explaining Components A CD interface (IDE) is used for mass storage devices in which chips are attached to the board or drive

Explaining Components An FM synthesiser is a method of enhancing sound by having two digital oscillators, with the output of one adding frequency to the other

Explaining Components SPDIF digital output is a data link layer that is used for carrying out digital audio signals between devices

Explaining Components WaveTable synthesiser is used to enhance audio in order for the sound come out in a more natural type fashion

Explaining Components The 16-bit ISA connector is a slot that helps transfer one bit of information per cycle through 16 different pathways

Explaining Components Joystick/MIDI Connector enables you to connect a joystick/controller into the drive

Explaining Components Speaker Out converter is used to connect to the home stereo speakers to play music through the sound card

Explaining Components Line Output converter is used to connect to a cassette or cd player to play music

Explaining Components MIC Output converter is used to connect a microphone to record voices or other sounds

Explaining Components Amplifier is what enhances the sound in order for it to be of good quality and to have a higher volume

Explaining Components WaveTable Daughterboard Connector is an extension of the circuit board that enables other chips to be connected

Explaining Components CD Audio connections are what sends out the audio from the drive

Explaining Components DAC/ADC is a converter in which digital input signals are changed to analog signals

Explaining Components DSP is used for digital signal processing applications

Explaining Components SIMM banks are used to hold several memory chips in order for a computer to have more memory

Types of Sound Cards 8 Bit: The 8 bit sound card has a lower quality than a 16 bit or 32 bit sound card, but has less requirements for the system's hardware. 16 Bit: The 16 bit sound card is of the next higher quality because of its storage capacity. This card creates a more accurate sample of the signal than the 8 bit card and its sample rate, or speed, is also another factor in higher resolution sampling. 32 Bit: The 32 bit card consists of the highest quality of sound cards, but also requires more of the system's resources and is more costly.

Top Sound Card Manufacturers Auzentach Creative Technology Diamond XtremeSound Digital Audio Labs Inland PPA Razer Sabrent Turtle Beach

Price Range For Sound Card The price range from sound cards range from the Sabrent Channel Sound Card which is $15 to the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card which are priced as low as $51 to the Asus Xonar Deluxe Sound Card which is priced at $239.

History of Sound Card Originally, computers were not designed to associate with sound. The only audio you would hear from computers were beeps if there was an error with your system. Other than that, only computer games would have sound and even that only consisted of beeping sounds. Then, the Sound Blaster sound card for the now ancient ISA bus came along. It could record real audio and then replay it back. It also had a MIDI interface, still common on sound cards today, which could control synthesisers, samplers and other electronic music equipment. It could "create" sounds by using FM synthesis, which were not that realistic but atleast it was sounds. The quality of the sound sounded roughly like an AM radio.

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