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A sound card is a device that allows sound to be recorded and played back on a computer. It can be internal or external, and requires drivers to work. Drivers can be found on the manufacturer’s website or operating system website, and should be updated regularly. The update process varies by operating system.
In the realm of computers, a sound card, also called a “sound card,” refers to a card that is plugged into a computer to allow sound to be recorded and played back. Sound cards support Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and analog audio, which is converted to digital data and provide ports for sound sources to connect for input, and ports for speakers, headphones, and amplifiers to connect for output. Although sound circuits can be built into a computer’s motherboard, they can be disabled if the user installs a separate sound card, which may be internal to the computer or external. Sound cards are like graphics cards, as are peripherals, in that they need drivers to work. Sound card drivers are software applications that run sound cards.
Each brand of sound card requires the specific sound card driver appropriate for it and the operating system it runs on. Since operating systems usually ship with a standard set of sound card drivers, the drivers may already be available when you install a sound card. Alternatively, sound card drivers may come with the sound card, for example on CD or DVD, or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website or from the operating system website. Sound card drivers, like other drivers, are updated often to accommodate operating system updates, as well as to provide improvements and bug fixes. Often there is a section of operating system and manufacturer websites called something like “Support and Downloads” where you can check if there is a newer version of a sound card driver than what is installed on your computer.
The sound card driver update process differs with different operating systems. According to the Microsoft® website, for example, with Windows® Vista®, you can follow a path on your computer to an “Update Driver Software” button that automates the driver update process. This is not true for all operating systems.
With other operating systems and/or if the automated process doesn’t work, we start by identifying the currently installed audio driver. You then go online to the sound card manufacturer’s website and look for links to your sound card under products or “Support and Drivers” or “Support and Downloads.” By following the links until you get to the correct product, you follow the prompts to download the latest sound card driver, making sure it is appropriate for your operating system and newer than your existing driver. Uninstall the existing driver, then double-click the new driver icon and follow the prompts to install.
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