The sound card can be a very useful component not only for multimedia professionals and gamers, but also for users in general. But what is a sound card and what is the function of a sound card? The sound card is an additional component on the computer that functions to produce sound that can be heard through speakers or headphones. Soundcard itself consists of several kinds according to its function. Soundcards for everyday purposes such as listening to music or playing games, of course, are different from soundcards for audio engineering. How important is the sound card in your computer? Is it still relevant if you use a sound card for my new computer? Well, it's right for you to visit this article because on this occasion, we will discuss soundcards ranging from history to other related matters.
Sound Card Functions: Histor
At first, the computer is an electronic device that is only used for counting and typing. Initially this device can also produce sound, but the resulting tone is still very simple. In the past, computer users could only hear beeps and other simple sounds. This is then used by programmers to create games with a distinctive sound at that time.
Over time, computers have developed into increasingly complex devices and require more and more components to meet specific needs. The computer eventually became a useful machine for entertainment needs, from listening to music, watching movies, to playing games. Well, the sound card is present at this time. A sound card is also not as sophisticated as it is today, where at that time it only contained 8 bit and 11 kHz sound. At that time, the soundcard was a separate component from the motherboard . However, unlike today's computers, there are already audio components that can even record and play sound up to 32 bits and 192 kHz. What's more motherboard which is as sophisticated as now that has audio quality that can produce sound with a clearer frequency.
Sound Card Function
The sound card functions as a component in charge of processing audio for the computer. The digital or analog signal that enters the component is digitally decoded as an algorithm which then turns into a waveform and produces a sonic signal at its output. This sound card controls all audio produced in the computer.
Sound cards also come in different types, but all of them are equipped with the ability to control volume, mute, and route incoming and outgoing audio. You can make settings on the sound card through the operating system without having to enter the BIOS section.
Since the sound card itself is a separate component, it will also contribute to the use of the computer's RAM and CPU. This will affect the performance of the computer. However, the more expensive sound cards are usually designed with their own processing power so that they will not burden the performance of the computer.
As we explained earlier that the function of the soundcard is not only for entertainment needs, but also for audio engineering. For music producers, especially in this digital era, the existence of a sound card is very important. Soundcard for audio engineering, also known as audio interface, serves to reduce latency when the sound produced by electric musical instruments is processed in the computer.
Should I Use a Sound Card?
This depends on several factors. The first factor is what type of audio device you are using. Do you use large speakers, a very expensive headphone or just use the earphones you have? Also do you use a computer for audio mixing needs or for playing games and want to get the best experience?
If you are a music composer or a professional gamer who needs a tactical advantage from the surround sound feature, then you can use a sound card on your computer. One more thing you need to know is that if you are already using a high-end motherboard , then you can re-evaluate the use of a sound card. The reason is, the motherboard is usually equipped with very capable audio components to be able to compensate for the use of headphones that have high impedance.