sound card

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 and from a computer under control of computer programs. 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). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.

General characteristics

Sound cards usually feature a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which converts recorded or generated digital data into an analog format. The output signal is connected to an amplifier, headphones, or external device using standard interconnects, such as a TRS connector or an RCA connector. If the number and size of connectors is too large for the space on the backplate the connectors will be off-board, typically using a breakout box, or an auxiliary backplate. More advanced cards usually include more than one sound chip to provide for higher data rates and multiple simultaneous functionality, eg between digital sound production and synthesized sounds (usually for real-time generation of music and sound effects using minimal data and CPU time).

Digital sound reproduction is usually done with multi-channel DACs, which are capable of multiple digital samples simultaneously at different pitches and volumes, or optionally applying real-time effects like filtering or distortion. Multi-channel digital sound playback can also be used for music synthesis when used with a compliance, and even multiple-channel emulation. This approach has become common as manufacturers seek to simplify the design and the cost of sound cards.

Most sound cards have a line in connector for signal from a cassette tape recorder or similar sound source. The sound card digitizes this signal and stores it (under control of appropriate matching computer software) on the computer's hard disk for storage, editing, or further processing. Another common external connector is the microphone connector, for use by a microphone or other low level input device. Input through a microphone jack can then be used by speech recognition software or for Voice over IP applications.

Color codes

Connectors on the sound cards are colour coded as per the PC System Design Guide. They will also have symbols with arrows, holes and soundwaves that are associated with each jack position, the meaning of each is given below:

Colour		Function	Connector	symbol
	Pink	Analog microphone audio input.	3.5 mm TRS	A microphone
	Light blue	Analog line level audio input.	3.5 mm TRS	An arrow going into a circle
	Lime green	Analog line level audio output for the main stereo signal (front speakers or headphones).	3.5 mm TRS	Arrow going out one side of a circle into a wave
	Brown/Dark	Analog line level audio output for a special panning,'Right-to-left speaker'.	3.5 mm TRS
	Black	Analog line level audio output for surround speakers, typically rear stereo.	3.5 mm TRS
	Orange	Analog line level audio output for center channel speaker and subwoofer	3.5 mm TRS
	Gold/Grey	Game port / MIDI	15 pin D	Arrow going out both sides into waves

History of sound cards for the IBM PC architecture

Sound cards for computers compatible with the IBM PC were very uncommon until 1988, which left the single internal PC speaker as the only way early PC software could produce sound and music. The speaker hardware was typically limited to square waves, which fit the common nickname of "beeper". The resulting sound was generally described as "beeps and boops". Several companies, most notably Access Software, developed techniques for digital sound reproduction over the PC speaker; the resulting audio, while baldly functional, suffered from distorted output and low volume, and usually required all other processing to be stopped while sounds were played. Other home computer models of the 1980s included hardware support for digital sound playback, or music synthesis (or both), leaving the IBM PC at a disadvantage to them when it came to multimedia applications such as music composition or gaming.

It is important to note that the initial design and marketing focuses of sound cards for the IBM PC platform were not based on gaming, but rather on specific audio applications such as music composition (AdLib Personal Music System, Creative Music System, IBM Music Feature Card) or on speech synthesis (Digispeech DS201, Covox Speech Thing, Street Electronics Echo). Not until Sierra and other game companies became involved in 1988 was there a switch toward gaming.

How does it work?

When you listen to the voice of the hardware, voice, digital data waveforms, including WAV and MP3 transfer to the sound card. Digital data processing of digital signal processing (DSP) digital-analog converter (DAC) of the envelope of the digital signal into analogue signal. This is an analog signal, then amplified through a loudspeaker.

At the same time, when you record a sound through a microphone, an analog sound through DSP processing and analog-digital converter (ADC). Analog signals, and then converted into digital signals. Wave signal, and then save in a table format the disk or compressed into other formats, like MP3 players.

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