What is a SOUND CARD?

 A sound card (also known

as an audio card) is a
computer expansion card
that facilitates the input
and output of audio signals
to/from a computer under
control of computer
programs.
 Sound Card can translate
digital information into
sound and back; also
called a sound board or
sound adapter.
 Uses of a SOUND CARD.
 Typical uses of sound
cards include
providing the audio
component for
multimedia
applications such as
music composition,
editing video or audio,
presentation/education
, and entertainment
(games).
 How it works?
 Sound cards plug into a slot on the motherboard (the
main circuit board of a computer) and are usually
connected to a pair of speakers.
 To play sounds, the sound card receives digital
information from a stored file and turns it into an
electrical signal and then it sends to the speakers,
which produce the sound.
 If the sound card is attached to a microphone, the
sound card can take the incoming sound and convert it
into digital information.
 SOUND CARD components

 Digital Signal Processor (DSP): A DSP is a specialized

microprocessor. It takes some of the workload off of the
computer's CPU by performing calculations for analog and
digital conversion. DSPs can process multiple sounds, or
channels, simultaneously. Sound cards that do not have
their own DSP use the CPU for processing.
 Memory: A sound card can use its own memory to
provide faster data processing.
 Input and Output Connections: Most sound cards
have connections for a microphone and speakers. Some
include so many input and output connections that
includes:
 SOUND CARD components
 Multiple speaker connections for 3-D and surround
sound
 A file transfer protocol for audio data
 Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), used to
connect synthesizers or other electronic
instruments to their computers. (A
Synthesizer is an electronic instrument (usually
played with a keyboard) that generates and
modifies sounds electronically and can imitate a
variety of other musical instruments).
 USB connections which connect digital audio or
video recorders to the sound card.
 Drivers & APIs

 A sound card uses software to help it

communicate with applications and with the
rest of the computer.
 This software includes the card's drivers,
which allow the card to communicate with
the operating system.
 It also includes application program
interfaces (APIs), which are sets of rules or
standards that make it easier for software to
communicate with the card. The most
common APIs include: Microsoft DirectSound
 Other Options for Sound
Control
 Not every computer has a sound card.
Some motherboards feature integrated
audio support instead. A motherboard
that has its own DSP can process
multiple data streams. It may also
support 3-D and surround sound.
However, in spite of these features, most
reviewers agree that separate sound
cards provide better audio quality.