Multiple sound cards in a computer can provide versatility, but can also cause problems such as confusion for basic users and difficulty switching audio output sources. However, it allows for playing two audio feeds in different speakers simultaneously. Downsides include crowding and cluttering workstations, and the need to switch between sound cards. Some computers have built-in sound cards that cannot be removed when upgrading.
A system with multiple sound cards in a computer can lend versatility and control to a computer sound system, but this type of setup can also cause some problems. High-powered sound cards can be bulky and get in the way of other hardware or computer cooling. Sometimes, a system with multiple sound cards can be confusing for basic users, so it might not be a good idea for homes where users with different computer skills share a computer. Depending on the software running the audio, multiple sound cards can make it difficult or inconvenient to switch audio output sources.
One good thing about having a multiple sound card setup is the ability to play two audio feeds in different speakers at the same time. This can usually only be done on software designed with the ability to run multiple sound cards from within the software. In a home computer media center, a system with multiple sound cards can mean that one person can watch a movie with sound in headphones while someone else listens to music on speakers in the room. For computers with multiple monitors, two audio output channels can allow two users to watch different movies at the same time.
One downside of having multiple sound cards in a computer is the process of switching between sound cards. If a user is listening to sound through one sound card and want to hear sound through another sound card, in many multimedia software programs, the user needs to close the program, change the sound card output in the control panel computer and restart the multimedia program. This is especially common when playing video or audio through a web browser.
Another disadvantage of multiple sound cards is that their presence can crowd a computer or clutter up a workstation. In addition to the space taken up by the sound cards themselves, each audio unit has a set of headphone or speaker outputs that also take up space. Professional audio engineers often use racks or shelves to organize audio equipment connected to a recording setup of multiple sound cards.
Each type of multiple sound card system has its own space issues. External sound cards take up desk space and have bulky cables that can clutter up a workstation. Internally installed sound cards take up space and produce heat, making your computer more likely to overheat. To deal with this problem, some users opt for a bigger and roomier computer case, while some might choose to install an advanced cooling system to better remove heat from the case.
In some cases, having a multiple sound card setup is unavoidable. Some computers have sound cards built into the computer motherboard. The motherboard is the main chipset of the computer which contains the processor chip. When a user upgrades from an integrated motherboard-based sound card to a sound card installed in another slot, he usually cannot remove the original sound card because it is part of the computer’s essential hardware.
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