Sound Card

Sound card is an integral component of the computer. Sound card enables us to hear the sound by working on the audio files. According to the format of the audio files sound card alters or manipulates it. Sound card available nowadays support almost all formats of audio files like .mp3, .mp4, .wav and many more. There is interface mostly on the back of the PCs where input and the output ports are located. Output is available through the speakers or the headphones. Sound card is also known as audio or sound adapter.

There is a separate port called the microphone port which allows the sound to be recorded with help of microphone you can record audio of any length and later convert to any convenient format.

Sound card also enable you to attach external audio player or any other external recording device. You may need to change the settings to make it compatible with your sound card.

There are two fundamental methods used to convert the digital files into the analog files which we can hear:

• FM Synthesis or frequency modulation synthesis imitates the sound of various musical instruments
• Wavetable Synthesis produces more accurate and clear sound and relies and is based on the actual recording of the instruments or musical devices

Most computers now available now come with the built in sound card which is coupled with the mother board and installed in the PCI slot. But if a use s not satisfied with the quality of the built in sound card then he can disable it and install his own separate external sound card if you want to perform major tasks like audio editing and audio mixing.

There are even USB sound card available which an be just plugged into the compute and brought to use.