The purpose of a sound card is revealed in its very name. It is designed to work with sound: converting from digital to analog (playback) and from analog to digital (recording).
The concept of "sound card" is now firmly included in all dictionaries and is used even by people who do not have great knowledge in the computer field. Therefore, it is worthwhile to clarify and disassemble in more detail the purpose of this small device.
Purpose of the sound card
The presence of a sound card is a prerequisite for creating sound and its further playback by speakers connected to the computer. You can make a comparison of its functions with the functions of a video card, which creates an image and provides its subsequent display on the monitor. Only in the case of a sound card, the created object will be sound. Among the huge variety of existing sound cards, there are also separate classes that differ in some ways.
The first external sound card went on sale in 1986. It was simple in design and allowed the reproduction of mono digital sound.
Types of sound cards
The main difference that separates the cards is the installation method used. According to this parameter, they are divided into cards that are built into the motherboard itself, and cards that perform their functions as a separate device.
The motherboard is a complex multilayer printed circuit board. It is the basis for building a personal computer.
The second type of cards is much more expensive, but the quality of the sound reproduced by them is much higher. For users who do not have any special requirements for sound quality, a regular embedded sound card that produces reasonably good sound is fine. Their use will relieve the user of the need to configure the card and look for suitable drivers. Such a card, by and large, is another additional device located on the motherboard.
Professional-grade sound cards will be essential for professional musicians and other people connected with the world of music. Such cards have many additional features and provide customization for individual user preferences. The sold set of such a card, as a rule, includes a control panel. They can also be equipped with other useful options.
For the bulk of the population, a cheaper and less functional built-in sound card is quite suitable. Additional capabilities will only be an expensive burden, the capabilities of which are unlikely to be evaluated and applied in practice.
