Selecting a sound card for a PC. How to choose a sound card for a computer? Sound cards: External

All computers have an integrated sound module designed for audio processing. His specifications do not allow you to get all the depth and realism from listening to studio recordings or high-quality films. A separate sound card can correct the shortcomings of the built-in analogue. But the wide range makes it difficult to choose the required device model. Reviews from specialists and videos demonstrating the operation of the equipment will help you choose the right option that will meet all the user’s needs.

Most computers that go on sale are equipped with one that is integrated into. They have low parameters to reproduce high-quality and clear sound. For music lovers or users who want to connect types 4.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc. To achieve the effect of presence while watching a movie, this sound card will not be enough, since the capabilities of the device will not allow this. The best way out of this situation is to purchase equipment with high technical characteristics.

Classification of sound cards

The main task assigned to it is processing the incoming audio signal. These products are divided into two main types:

• external;
• internal.

External devices are connected to a personal computer either via a USB port or FireWire. The second option is installed inside system unit via PCI or PCIe connectors depending on the motherboard model and the hardware itself. The price of internal sound cards is slightly lower compared to external devices. But they are quality sensitive electric current received from a PC and are susceptible to the negative effects of interference. All this can affect the purity of the reproduced sound.

Attention! The design of laptops does not provide for the installation of an internal sound card.

Regardless of the type of execution, devices are divided into two types:

• for professional use;
• for household needs.

Professional equipment differs from home equipment in that it has connectors for connecting musical instruments: Jack 6.3 and XLR, as well as built-in filters for finer sound purification. There is also a price division of these devices, which divides them into three classes:

• Budget. Similar devices have the lowest quality of reproduced sound. They have a minimum set of inputs and outputs for connecting an acoustic system.
• Average. Products in this segment have high technical characteristics to create an immersive effect while watching films in 3D or Blu-ray format. They convert the audio signal from digital to analog during playback, and back during recording, without delay or noise. The package may include software to expand your audio processing capabilities.
• Premium Equipment of this class reproduces sound high frequency and is mainly used by professional musicians. Its interface allows you to connect multiple devices. They have several volume controls and their own equalizer. The package may include specialized software for professional audio recording.

Technical characteristics and selection criteria

On the modern market, sound cards are presented in a wide range from different manufacturers that have great the lineup of its products. This circumstance greatly complicates the selection of the necessary equipment modification. When choosing a device, you should pay attention to the following parameters: bit depth and sampling rate, hardware interface and supported technologies.

Advice. When purchasing an internal sound card, it is recommended to choose a device with a PCIe connector, since the PCI bus is obsolete and will soon fall out of use.

Signal converter

The sound card is equipped with the so-called central processor. It is designed for digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) of a signal with subsequent output to an acoustic system and analog-to-digital conversion - when recording sound and saving data on. The processing speed of the streaming audio signal depends on its frequency. A device with 2 -3 DAC/ADC is capable of simultaneously processing several audio channels.

DAC capacity

This parameter is responsible for the quality of the processed sound signal during recording or playback. The standard bit width is 16 bits. There may be products on sale with 8-bit, 24-bit, etc. When using a 16-bit device, audio is reproduced at 65,536 volume levels, and on 8-bit – 256. Accordingly, the higher the bit depth, the better quality.

Sampling frequency

This device parameter is responsible for the quality of filtering the audio signal before saving it. To create stereo 2.0 audio, the sampling frequency must be 44.1 kHz, which is twice the hearing threshold of the human ear. This value accepted as standard and supported by all models of budget and mid-class sound cards. To watch movies in the format: DVD - 48 kHz, FullHD - 91 kHz, to transmit full sound and create the effect of presence, the parameter must be 192 kHz (studio recording, 3D or Blu-ray video playback requires 192 kHz).

Attention! Sound cards with a sampling frequency less than 44.1 kHz reproduce low quality sound with extraneous noise.

Interface

Depending on the user’s needs, the device can be equipped with connectors for connecting various equipment: acoustic system type 2.0, 4.0, 5.1, 5.2 (number of channels), Jack 6.3 sockets (musical instruments), optical inputs and outputs S/PDIF (transfer of information without compression and quality degradation). Equipment with a MIDI interface provides the ability to connect MIDI devices: keyboards, controllers, etc. The presence of Full Duplex connectors ensures simultaneous recording and playback of signals from several channels. External cards may have volume and balance controls for each channel.

Technologies

Sound cards, depending on their class, support various technologies designed to improve sound quality.

• Dolby Digital – provides suppression of electrical, electronic and mechanical noise.
• DTS Digital – creates surround sound and presence, used for recording films in 3D and Blu-Ray formats.
• EAX ADVANCED HD – used to create sound effects in games, 3D and Blu-Ray films to ensure maximum realism. Due to reverberation and reflection sound waves she creates virtual world everything that happens around the user.
• ASIO protocol – provides optimization of data transfer when working with various applications, thereby increasing computer performance.

Advice. It is recommended to select a device that supports certain technologies depending on the capabilities and technical characteristics of the speaker system.

The main criterion when choosing optimal model sound card are the needs of the consumer, based on which the necessary requirements are presented. The number of different connectors, support for various technologies and form factor (type of execution) determine the class of the device and its cost. When purchasing this equipment for, it is recommended to give preference to those modifications that receive power via a USB port, which will increase mobility. The right products can connect the required equipment, deliver high quality sound and depth to create realism and full presence.

How to install a sound card in a computer: video

Good afternoon, dear ladies and gentlemen. Today we will talk about how to choose a good sound card for a computer or laptop. It would seem such a simple device, and there are many on the market various models, you can just take and install the first one you come across. However, in reality it is not so simple. The problem of this choice primarily faces those who often listen to music, like to watch movies via a PC, or play 3D games. The best sound card is capable of transmitting a high-quality signal without problems, but which one is actually the best, let's take a closer look.

What should you pay attention to first?

Everyone knows that most modern motherboards contain an integrated good sound card. It is quite suitable for everyday use for those people who do not need high-quality sound. Of course, if a person wants to completely immerse himself in the world of sound effects, then not even the coolest integrated sound card will allow him to do this. Here we need to talk about external devices of this type. It is common knowledge that DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Digital are standards that will allow you to watch movies in surround sound. If even an inexpensive sound card has the ability to read these standards, it will allow you to watch movies with a minimum amount of noise and sound distortion. This is very important in order to achieve the effect of presence when watching a film. The presence of the EAX ADVANCED HD standard allows you to get surround sound in the most advanced games.

Standard EAX ADVANCED HD

Thanks to this component, all the sounds that will come from the speakers will become much more realistic. Both analog and digital inputs may be present here. The first one almost always works with interference, which is almost impossible to eliminate due to its design features. Digital input eliminates their formation almost one hundred percent. You should always remember this when we're talking about about choosing a cool sound card. It is worth noting the fact that some integrated systems have connectors for high-frequency signal transmission, and it is these that are recommended for use. The amount of interference in this case will be minimal.

Type

Another problem that every person who decides to purchase a popular sound card will have to face is its type. However, the choice in this case is not great. There are two types of devices - external and internal.

Domestic

The second type should not be confused with integrated. Almost any budget sound card is connected inside the system unit into a PCI slot. It takes up minimal space and does not contain any additional wires. A very convenient option that most people use.

External

The external version of the device also has a right to exist. This is a separate unit that is installed externally personal computer. It is worth noting the fact that it has relatively small geometric dimensions, so it does not create any additional interference during operation. On external map a large number of different pins can be located, which significantly expands it functionality. At the same time, she is the only one possible option connecting a 5.1 system to a laptop. It is she who is the connecting link between him and the sound system.

Functionality

All modern sound cards are divided into certain types depending on their functionality. Any device must have at least 8 connectors, each of which performs a specific function. These include: a connector for connecting to an external device, that is, a computer or laptop, output to the front, rear speakers, center channel, microphone, headphones, line channel, as well as a number of additional connectors that may be useful for one way or another.

Sound card connectors

Of course, the functionality of good sound cards depends on what they will be used for. For everyday conditions, the three types of cards that were listed above will be quite sufficient. If we are talking about a professional musician’s computer, then you should think about the possibility of connecting additional devices and about the high quality of production of the board itself. Of course, this cannot but affect the cost of the device. In terms of the price-quality ratio of a sound card, for a person who just listens to music and watches movies, an option that has high-quality connectors of the above types is suitable.

Sound card for musician

And for musicians, high-quality sound cards are created that are quite expensive. You can find a huge amount of information about such devices on specialized resources on the Internet. The forum about sound cards will tell a novice musician which specific option to pay attention to when purchasing. We bring to the attention of our dear readers a small rating of inexpensive but high-quality sound cards for computers.

Rating of the best sound cards for a computer

Here, in brief, is everything you should pay attention to when buying a sound card. And one more piece of advice: after you have decided on the card model, it will not be superfluous to read reviews of its real owners on thematic forums. Don’t forget to check out Youtube, there are video reviews of maps there. And now I present to your attention a small rating of the best internal sound cards in the inexpensive segment.

ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3

Internal sound card ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 with connection type – PCI-E, has p bit depth of DAC and ADC –24 bit and o signal-to-noise ratio of DAC and ADC –120 dB. The maximum frequency of stereo DAC, multichannel DAC and ADC is 192 kHz. The card has 4 analog inputs and 4 analog outputs. In addition, it has an optical input, coaxial output and HDMI 1.3 - output/output. The device supports standards: EAX – v. 2, ASIO-v. 2.0 and OpenAL. According to reviews, this is a wonderful sound card for watching movies with a 7.1 audio system.

ASUS Xonar DG

The internal sound card ASUS Xonar DG with connection type – PCI 2.2, has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical output, 4 analog inputs, 6 analog output channels and 3 analog output connectors. The model produces clear and surround sound, supports EAX – v. standards. 2 and ASIO v. 2.0. According to reviews, this is one of the best sound cards for listening to music through headphones. Device owners on forums recommend installing drivers not from the disk. but from the Internet.

ASUS Xonar DGX

The internal sound card ASUS Xonar DGX with connection type – PCI-E, has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical output, 2 analog inputs, 6 analog output channels, 3 analog output connectors and a connector for connecting to the front panel of a PC. The model supports the standard – EAX v. 5. To connect it, you need a PCI-Express slot on the motherboard. The card itself has a 7-pin (2 by 4 and one empty) output, where plugs are attached for output to the front panel, headphones and microphone. The card understands that if you insert headphones in front, the speakers in the back are turned off. Card owners recommend downloading drivers for the card from the Asus website, and not from a disk. The model has a high-quality separate headphone amplifier.

Creative Recon3D PCIe

The internal Creative Recon3D PCIe sound card with connection type – PCI-E has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical input/output, 4 analog inputs, 6 analog output channels, a connector for connecting to the front panel of a PC, 3 analog output connectors and an independent headphone output connector. The model supports standards – EAX v. 2 and OpenAL . The card has flexible setup from Windows, and according to reviews, it has proven itself to be excellent for soundtracking 3D games, amazingly with the quality of sound effects. She behaves similarly when watching movies. Playing music with a card through any Hi-Fi headphones under $200 reveals their full potential.

More and more people are writing music, doing dubbing, and doing production and post-production at home. And here you can’t do without.

Firstly, why do you need a sound card?

The task of any sound card is to convert digital data into an analog signal that can be output to a playback source, as well as converting an analog signal into digital data for recording. The DAC and ADC (digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters) are responsible for this.

None of the computers have built-in 6mm jack or xlr connectors. The sound card, in turn, makes it possible to connect and record any musical electrical instrument, microphone, and so on. Many models are also equipped with midi and other connectors, which allows you to connect other devices through them.

Why is a computer's built-in sound card not enough?

When working with the built-in map, you will notice several features:

• It is possible to record only one signal source at a time;
• Possible signal delay, failures, recording background noise and interference (this is especially true in system units with noisy coolers).

These two factors are the main obstacles to creating a quality recording. If you encounter them, it's time to start choosing an external sound card.

An external card will help relieve the computer processor.

When working with a sound card built into a computer, a significant amount of resources is consumed not only from the processor, but also random access memory. An external sound card takes care of the work with incoming and outgoing sound, reduces latency during recording, and allows you to record and mix several sound sources at once.

Photo: James Baldwin

The ASIO sound driver helps reduce latency and increase recording quality on external sound cards.

ASIO (audio stream input/output)- streaming data input and output driver developed by Steinberg. ASIO received wide use, and most external sound cards use this particular data transfer protocol. When transmitting an audio stream, the device provides high accuracy and low levels of audio latency. ASIO allows you to receive or play audio directly through your sound card, bypassing your computer's audio subsystem.

Main characteristics of external sound cards

They may differ in connection method. The most common is USB. Sound cards for Mac can be connected via thunderbolt/type-C connectors. There are also firewire sound cards - high speed transmitting data over this bus allows you to work comfortably, but since computers are equipped with this connector less and less often, manufacturers have practically stopped producing sound card models with this connection method. You can still find interesting devices with a firewire connector on the secondary market, but before purchasing, you should take the trouble of finding the right adapter to connect the card to your computer.

Cards may differ in DAC/ADC capacity. The average value on the market is 24 bit. The higher the indicator, the better the quality of the recording.

The higher the DAC frequency, the better quality the recording will be. The audio CD standard (44.1 kHz) has long been a market standard.

The signal to noise ratio is important:

• in entry-level cards it is 75-90 dB;
• in good mid and high maps price category- 90-100 dB;
• in PRO-level cards for recording studios - 100-114 dB.

Another important characteristic is the harmonic distortion coefficient of the DAC/ADC signal. The lower the number, the cleaner the sound will be at the output. The most optimal value for an external sound card is 0.001% -0.0009%.

Cards may vary in the number and type of built-in connectors.

If you plan to use, then you need to pay attention to models that have not only an xlr input, but also a built-in preamplifier with phantom power. To record musical instruments (such as a guitar), you will need a device that has a high-impedance instrument input - Hi-Z. In some sound cards it is combined with others and can be activated by pressing a button. If you plan to connect midi equipment, then sound cards that have midi in/out are your choice.

You should also immediately decide in what conditions to record. In addition to technically important parameters, it is worth paying attention to the weight and size of the sound card. This affects the ease of transportation. There cannot be one opinion here - rely on your personal feelings. But remember - more mobile devices have fewer inputs and outputs and simpler DACs/ADCs.

Let's move on to selection

Since USB is the most common and universal connection method (all computers have this connector or the ability to connect it), we will consider these sound cards.

In operation, they have a single, albeit very conditional, drawback - the data transfer speed. Usually it is no higher than 480 Mbit/s, since the connection is made via USB 2.0. Most likely, you are unlikely to exceed this threshold. And if you know in advance that you need other powers, then it’s worth considering sound cards that connect via a firewire or thunderbolt/type-C connector - right choice interface directly depends on the tasks you set.

Lexicon alpha

An entry-level external sound card that has all the necessary inputs and outputs for recording and supports recording - 24-bit/48kHz. For beginners or not very demanding users, this is a good and practical option. Important - Lexicon Alpha does not work in the operating room macOS system X El Capitan and newer, since the device is supported from the outside Apple companies and Lexicon ended.

PRESONUS AudioBox iOne\iTwo

An entry-level audio interface that can work not only with computers, but also with mobile devices on iOS. The iOne has one instrument and one mic input, while the iTwo has two combo inputs. The interfaces have an internal analog mixer that allows for zero-latency monitoring and control of recorded audio. One of the important advantages of the device is its compact size.

Photo: Behringer

The card is quite universal in operation and has a low cost. Equipped with phantom power, two independent outputs and proprietary preamps. The downside is that the response when adjusting the volume is not the most convenient, and under heavy loads the card may need to be restarted.

Onyx Blackjack

Photo: Mackie

The card is from a series of the company's flagship products. Visually, it is more similar to a Mackie sound engineering console, which is what attracts the buyer.. Everything inside is also very interesting - high-class DAC/ADC converters, di-box, phantom power and a proprietary recording monitoring system with virtually no latency.

Focusrite Scarlett solo/2i2/2i4 2nd gen

Photo: Focusrite

Focusrite's Scarlett series sound cards are some of the most popular on the market. All thanks to the sound quality, ease of control, and memorable design. Musicians often use it for live performances. High quality achieved thanks to proprietary Focusrite microphone preamps. The card has a durable body and is easy to take with you and record anywhere convenient.

Scarlett series models differ in size and number of inputs and outputs. Focusrite offers complete recording kits based on these sound cards. The kit includes headphones, microphone and connection cable.

UA-55 Quad-Capture

Photo: Roland

Excellent Roland VS Preamps, which can also be found on premium devices. The good news is that there is a DSP processor that controls the compressor and preamp of each channel. The card has a built-in DI box: when you press the Ground lift button, it removes unnecessary background from the incoming signal.

The compact and reliable aluminum case puts a confident point on the issue of quality. Most users of this device they simply cannot identify its significant shortcomings - perhaps there really are none. This is rightfully one of the best cards for home recording.

Steinberg UR22 MK2

Photo: Steinberg

The fruit of cooperation between Steinberg and Yamaha. Supports 24-bit/192 kHz recording, has phantom power, two XLR/TRS inputs, two outputs, and Midi In/Midi Out ports. Metal body inspires confidence, and the included Cubase AI will help you get started right away.

Above we looked at the most popular models that receive a lot of positive reviews and consistently delight users with their quality. But, if you have not yet found the device that meets your requirements, we also recommend paying attention to the following devices:

• Alesis iO2 Express;
• ESI MAYA44 Xte;
• M-Audio M-Track Plus II;
• MiNiSTUDIO Personal US-32;
• Yamaha Audiogram 6;
• M-Audio M-Track 2x2M;
• Tascam US-2x2;
• iConnectivity iConnectAudio2+;
• Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6;
• AKAI PRO EIE Pro;
• Arturia AudioFuse;
• Apogee Duet 2;
• MOTU 4pre;
• Avid Mbox 3;
• Apogee Duet 2;
• Roland Studio Capture UA-1610;
• Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII DUO.

It is always worth remembering that the most important thing in choosing a card is your requirements. In different situations, the most suitable and convenient may be completely different models. So enjoy your choice and have great sound!

Cover: PRESONUS AudioBox iTwo / PRESONUS

Many musicians and other people who often work with sound on a computer in one way or another or just listen to music are dissatisfied with the standard sound on a computer. This is where a sound card comes to the rescue. Let's talk about how to choose a sound card, what are its types.

When you buy a computer or laptop, you will in any case have a standard sound card installed in motherboard. Often it is enough for ordinary ordinary users who do not care about sound quality and who just need sound.

Interesting fact: About 15 years ago, standard sound cards were not inserted into the motherboard, and you had to buy one separately. Because there was simply nowhere to connect speakers (headphones).

The built-in sound card is not suitable for musicians and audiophiles, so sooner or later they are faced with the question of buying an additional sound card. Any, even the most budget external sound card will make the sound much richer and brighter.

Of course, first of all, you must decide why you need a sound card. And based on this, you can choose a specific device.

What you might typically need a sound card for:

• You just need more connectors (inputs and outputs).
• Want to high quality sound in games.
• To listen to music.
• For sound recording and sound processing (for musicians).
• To watch movies.
• Etc.

Types of sound cards

To know, how to choose a sound card, you need to understand that they are all conditional can be divided into 2 categories:

1. Musical. Such devices are intended mainly for musicians, sound engineers - for people who have to work with sound recording and processing. Such sound cards are more expensive than other cards.
2. Multimedia. These models are suitable for ordinary users: for watching movies, for playing games, for recording videos, for general listening to music. Such devices are more common and cheaper than musical ones.

In addition, sound cards are also divided into the following types:

It is worth noting that if you are choosing a sound card for a laptop (or tablet), then you should choose an external device. Internal map You simply won't be able to connect anywhere.

Audio outputs

The more sound outputs, the more devices you can connect to the sound card. Of course, each user needs their own number of connectors. Therefore, first decide why you need a sound card in order to estimate how many sound outputs you need.

Ideally, at a minimum, the sound card should have the following connectors:

1. Microphone input.
2. Headphone output.
3. S/PDIF connector. S/PDIF - you can connect various devices. It is believed that when connected through this connector, you can get better sound.
4. Line output.
5. MIDI inputs and outputs (if you plan to connect MIDI devices, such as synthesizers.

Which connector is needed for what:

Availability of headphone and microphone preamplifiers

Before, how to choose a sound card, please note that there are devices that are equipped with built-in preamplifiers for headphones and microphone, and there are also those without preamplifiers.

What is a preamplifier? The fact is that, for example, the microphone itself is weak, and in order to record it, a preamplifier is needed.

If sound quality is really important to you (both when recording and when listening), it is better to take a sound speaker without preamplifiers, and buy them separately, because the built-in preamplifiers are not very good. good quality. But keep in mind that separate preamplifiers will take up additional space. At this point, decide for yourself what is most important to you.

Availability of built-in ASIO driver

When choosing a sound card, be sure to check or ask the seller whether the device has a built-in ASIO driver. What it is?

This is a special protocol that is needed to minimize the delay of sound when it is transmitted from the sound card to the computer.

For example, when you play a guitar (through a sound hook into a computer), you first hit the strings, and you hear the sound in the speakers after a while (even a split second - and you can already hear how the sound lags behind). Or when you play, the same thing can happen: first you press a key, and you hear the sound in the speakers after a while.

So, the ASIO driver minimizes this delay to such an extent that you will not hear it. That is, it will, of course, be there, but it will be so minimal that the human ear will not hear it.

So if this is important for you, make sure that such a driver is available when choosing a sound card. Otherwise, you will have to additionally install an ASIO driver for the program in which you will work, which is not always convenient.

Compatibility with your software

There are such problems when you bought a sound card, connected it - but it does not want to work with yours. operating system, or with the program in which you work as a musician.

Therefore, inquire in advance and make sure that the sound card will not conflict with your software. As a last resort, do not hesitate to ask the seller about it.

How to choose a sound card: price

Of course, it is difficult to talk about prices for a particular model, since the price depends on many factors: the type of device, the manufacturer, the number of inputs and outputs, and the quality of the sound card.

We can only say that music sound cards are more expensive than multimedia ones, because the former are more demanding on sound quality.

The cheapest and most primitive sound card can cost you literally 100 rubles. For example, this one from China ():

Of course, don't expect a significant improvement in sound quality from this interface. Unless you get a couple of additional connectors, and that’s it. Moreover, for that kind of money, especially from China :) But for those who want to indulge, this option may be suitable.

Sound card of average quality, normal, may cost about 10-15K ruble y.

Professional sound cards, especially for professional musicians and sound engineers, can be very expensive, up to 300K rubles, and even higher.

Conclusion

So we figured out a little about this issue - how to choose a sound card. We can conclude that before you buy this device, you need to clearly understand why you need it. Based on these goals, you should choose a sound card.

Pay enough attention to choosing a sound card, don’t be lazy. You shouldn’t immediately run to the store and buy the first model you come across. Also, do not forget to study the technical characteristics of the device you like.

Do you know what other criteria you need to pay attention to when choosing a sound card? Write in the comments!

Do you like listening to music and watching movies on your computer? Then you can't do without a sound card

According to the definition given in books on computer literacy for dummies or computer science textbooks, a sound card for a laptop or desktop PC means a special device that can be integrated on the motherboard or be external, used to reproduce and process the incoming sound signal. Using an audio card, you can listen to music, watch full-fledged movies, or enjoy gaming. Through special programs You can process sound or create music yourself.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

the process of audio processing on a computer involves editing recordings, eliminating noise, digitizing analog compositions for saving them on modern types of media, mixing music or embedding a frequency range.

Most modern sound cards are equipped with multiple outputs, including a jack for connecting speakers, a microphone or headphones.

This device may have different names:

• audio input/output device;
• sound card;
• audio card;
• audio device.

The card itself can be represented by a separate expansion card placed in the corresponding connector of the motherboard, or it can look like an integrated chipset soldered on the motherboard. It all depends on the model and manufacturer.

Why do you need a sound card in a computer?

Some users wonder what a sound card is for a computer. This is a necessary part that is found in every PC or laptop. Its purpose is to process the incoming audio signal and reproduce it.

Even the sounds that are built into the system and notify the user about events on the computer cannot be reproduced without the presence of this part. Also, users who play music professionally will need to buy a sound card for their computer, since it allows them to process sound and write their own works. Gamers install external sound cards on their laptops for better sound and more immersive gaming experience. game process. The presence of connectors in the audio card for connecting external speakers or headphones makes it possible to watch movies, listen to music or have online conversations with relatives or friends using Skype or other similar programs.

To understand what a sound card looks like in a computer, you can look at the photo. Also, the method of determining where exactly the sound device is hidden in the PC will depend on its type and the type of computer (desktop or laptop). How to identify a sound card in desktop computer? This can be done by disassembling the case. On the motherboard you need to find a small chip (microcircuit), on which the name of the manufacturer's company will be printed. This method determines the sound card soldered to the motherboard.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

if it is built-in, but connected as a separate device, then its location will be the corresponding slot. Usually this is PCI-Express. In this case, the presence of a sound card on the computer will be indicated by the various outputs on the rear wall of the system unit.

It is more difficult to disassemble a laptop, so you can determine exactly where the sound card will be located by looking at the external connectors. Typically, portable PC models have only two outputs - for a microphone and headphones or speakers.

On the motherboard, the sound card is represented by a small chip indicating the manufacturer

There are only two main types of audio devices for a PC - an external sound card for a computer and an internal or built-in one. They differ in their appearance and set of characteristics. The purposes for using these devices in the system also differ slightly.

External USB sound card

This is a device that is a separate block, inside of which there is a set of chips responsible for converting and reproducing sound, connected to the computer via USB port. Application external device is an opportunity to significantly improve sound quality. Most often, such systems are used for laptops, since discrete audio chips cannot produce high quality audio even on expensive models. The need to purchase an external sound card can be caused by two reasons:

• desire to get high-quality sound on a laptop PC;
• if the main sound card is broken and cannot be repaired, or the replacement procedure will be more expensive than buying a new one.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Connecting speakers is not a solution to the problem of poor quality sound. This will only lead to an increase in volume, at which all the flaws and shortcomings of the built-in audio chip will become more pronounced.

More often inexpensive models External sound cards are no larger than a regular flash drive. More expensive and high quality ones may be similar to HDD. The most expensive models, the price of which can reach 10,000, are close in size to the size of the computer itself.

All external audio devices have common capabilities:

• amplification of the audio stream compared to regular means computer;
• ability to connect external speakers, microphone and headphones.

Expensive models can be equipped various sensors, indicators, regulators. Top models additionally have coaxial outputs and analog channels.

The advantages of external sound cards for a computer are:

• significant improvement in sound quality;
• mobility, what does possible connection devices to any PC;
• a wide range of models on sale;
• the ability to adjust the main frequency parameters using buttons located on the body of the device.

Internal sound card for computer

As the name implies, this type of device for playing and processing audio streams is a system hidden in the computer case. There is a division of internal audio cards into two categories:

Integrated. This is a chip that is soldered directly onto the board. This solution is the most budget option. You should not expect from such a system high-quality sound, although more expensive motherboards may have high-quality chips installed. The advantage of this type is the reduction total cost computer. But such an audio device has many more disadvantages:

• after being placed on the motherboard, the chip begins to be affected by electrical noise, which distorts the analog signal;
• lack of its own processor, which leads to increased CPU load;
• inability to connect powerful audio systems.

Discrete. This type is a separate board that is installed in a PCI slot. Discrete cards are considered the oldest options. There are many manufacturers who specialize in producing discrete options.

The use of this type has a number of advantages:

• the presence of its own sound processor, which reduces the load on the CPU and does not slow down the PC;
• producing higher quality sound;
• the ability to connect powerful external audio playback devices;
• the presence of a disk containing drivers for the sound card for Windows 7 or another operating system.

The main parameter that determines the effectiveness of a sound card is high-quality audio playback without unnecessary interference and distortion. Most devices have digital and analog inputs.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

in practice, it turns out that the analog input/output produces interference when playing sound. But professional musicians believe that analog sound has a “warmth” that digital cannot provide.

Signal converter

Since a computer is digital device, and sound is an analog physical phenomenon, the use of special devices for conversion is required. On a sound card, a separate chip called a DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, is responsible for this. The conversion process occurs in two stages:

• first, signal samples that coincide with the sampling frequency are isolated from the data stream;
• Then, by interpolation or smoothing, a time-continuous analog signal is formed.

There is also an inverse conversion technique, when an analog stream is received at the input, which needs to be made understandable to the computer, which means representing the signal into a set of numbers.

DAC capacity

Another characteristic that is closely related to conversion is the bit depth of the digital-to-analog converter. Bit depth is the number of bits of the input code or the minimum number of units of digital information or bits. Usually the representation is used binary number, the bit depth of which exceeds 16.

Increasing this indicator is required to expand the dynamic range.

To obtain sound with minimal distortion, you need to use a DAC with maximum number discharges. Higher conversion parameters corresponding to 24 or 32 bits are used during audio signal processing. For playback, 16-bit is usually sufficient.

Sampling frequency

Since during conversion the signal is fixed at a certain amount samples, we can talk about time sampling. A situation may arise that these segments will be located at a large interval from each other, which will lead to loss of information and sound distortion. Therefore, for correct audio conversion it is necessary to take samples at the maximum frequency.

The limit is the speed of the DAC. Also than large quantity fixed segments passes through the processor, the more memory is required to be allocated for data storage. A signal that has the form of discrete samples can be converted into an infinite one only if the interval is limited to half the period of the highest signal oscillation in the spectrum. This is why sound card standards use filters that limit the maximum sampling rate.

Interfaces

Almost every sound card for a computer is equipped with a certain set of ports or connectors that are used to connect microphones, headphones, external speakers and other devices. The most common inputs/outputs are the following connectors, differing in color:

• pink– for microphone;
• blue– linear output;
• green– connector for connecting acoustics or headphones;
• black– for surround sound system;
• grey– when using a 7.1 system, when you need to connect side speakers;
• orange– for connecting a center channel or subwoofer.

Additionally, more advanced models may have an optical output or SPDIF, a coaxial connector that allows for better sound.

The choice of sound card should primarily be determined by its purpose.

How to choose a sound card for your computer

When choosing the optimal sound card for a PC, you should pay attention not only to the listed characteristics, but also imagine the purposes for which it will be used, and take a closer look at some additional parameters:

• EAX technology support. This is an analogue of DirectSound3D three-dimensional sound, which is used for sound cards. The use of such techniques is important in computer games, because it allows you to achieve the effect of presence. This technique is also used for reflection and reverberation of sound;
• presence of ASIO. A protocol that is used to transmit an audio signal with minimal delays, which is important when using editors to record audio. This technology is also implemented at the hardware level;
• Midi. A midi interface is required for musicians who intend to use a computer to create their own arrangements. These connectors are required to connect synthesizers or musical keyboards.

Also, when choosing the optimal card, you should not fall for marketing tricks, since very often the indicated indicators are exaggerated. It is worth paying attention to the DAC manufacturer. The best companies considered Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson. Another quality indicator is serial number converter The larger the number, the more modern the model.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

It is better to choose cards on which all chips are made by the same manufacturer, which will avoid conflicts at the hardware level.

The best manufacturers

ASUS sound cards

One of the market leaders for these products is Taiwanese ASUS company, which is known to a wide range of users for its mobile products - laptops and phones. The manufacturer’s line of audio devices is represented by both budget models (Xonar DG, cost – 2,200 rubles) and premium products, which, according to users, produce almost ideal sound (Strix Raid DLX, cost – 15,000 rubles).

Creative sound cards

Next in the ranking of the best manufacturers is Creative Labs, which specializes in the production of hardware and software. One of the most popular models is Sound Blaster, which is already experiencing its 6th rebirth. The top model in the line is the Sound Blaster ZX, which has an original external design and a remote unit for connecting peripherals and controlling sound parameters. The cost of this card starts from 9,000 rubles.

Sound Blaster ZX

Other companies

Asus and Creative are the undisputed leaders. Also on the sound card market there are companies such as LynxStudio, which produces mid-price audio devices, C-Media, M-Audio. Distinctive feature sound devices The latest brand is the focus of products on recording sound at home. This is expressed in equipping the board with a line input for a guitar or microphone.

Using Device Manager, you can not only see which card is installed, but also update the driver

How to check a sound card on a computer and find out exactly what it costs

The most in a simple way How to find out the sound card on a computer is to use the Windows “Task Manager”. The “Sound, video and gaming devices” item will show all audio devices installed on a specific PC.

Driver for sound card

You can also try to update the sound card driver through Device Manager if you have problems with sound. This will be useful for budget models that do not come with a special disk with installation software.

How to connect a sound card to a computer

After purchasing a brand new audio card, the question may arise about how to install a sound card on a computer. When using an external device, you only need to plug the plug into the USB socket, and then install necessary drivers for proper functioning. If you are using a discrete card, then you will need to remove the side cover of the system unit and carefully place the card in the appropriate slot. A latch is used for fixation. After physical installation, you need to turn on the PC and install the drivers. It is quite possible that the system itself will detect the new device and automatically install it.