Sound card for computer: how to choose. Helpful Tips

In order to enjoy all the advantages of high-definition video and the most modern computer games, you need both a high-performance processor and a powerful graphics adapter. However, very often users forget that to fully immerse in the atmosphere, it also requires high-quality multi-channel sound. In this case, codecs, drivers and built-in sound card will not help much in such a case. You need a serious device. The article will describe how to choose a sound card. Useful tips for choosing also will not be left without attention.

Embedded Chips

Sound devices that are soldered directly on the system card board are unable to compete with discrete hardware. First of all, the codec installed on the motherboard, during its work actively uses the resources of the processor, which reduces the overall performance by several percent.

It happens that the built-in sound card is located in close proximity to high-amperage power lines. The electromagnetic field created by them leads to an increase in interference and interference. The architecture of the built-in equipment is simplified to the maximum.

How to choose a sound card for your computer?

There are many hardware for sound output, all of which can be divided into two types: music cards and multimedia.

The first group is used for recording, playback and processing of audio information. This makes them narrow-minded, and such devices are meant mainly for musicians. They can be installed either inside the system unit or connected to a USB connector. The price of this type of equipment is high.

Multimedia sound cards are suitable for a wider range of users. They are ideal for both stereo systems and acoustics with five and seven channels. Codecs are already embedded in the sound card and do not require additional configuration; In addition, in addition to codecs, the device has its own processor, which has a positive effect on the performance of the computer.

Main characteristics

In order to choose a sound card for a computer, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of the device. First of all, a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) is installed on the board. Its main task is to process a digital signal and create its analog equivalent. This device is essentially the brain of the audio card.

DAC parameters

How to choose a sound card for a computer, what characteristics should a DAC have? Almost always enough DAC, the bit depth is 16 bits, and the maximum sampling frequency is 48 kHz. The last digit indicates how often the converter reads the signal during recording or playback.

It is believed that this parameter should be twice the frequency of the sound to be reproduced. According to this theory, it can be said that for almost any record, 44.1 kHz is enough; This level exceeds the threshold of frequencies audible by a person, twice. However, tests show that the rule is not always executed as it is written on paper, which means it makes sense to choose a device with a higher sampling rate for greater sound accuracy.

Marketing tricks

I must say that the numbers written in the advertising brochures are not always true, they are often greatly exaggerated. For example, a card with a declared sampling frequency of 98 kHz can sound much worse than a device with more modest digits. "How to choose the right sound card, if you can not believe the characteristics?" The user will ask. When studying the technique, pay attention to the firm that manufactured the DAC. The best are Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson, Texas Instruments.

In addition to the manufacturer, it is worth knowing the serial number of the DAC. He points to the "advancement" of the model. That is, the larger the number, the more modern the development. You can check the code name of the chip only on the manufacturer's website.

If several digital-to-analog converters are installed on the audio board, it is desirable that they all be the same. Quite often for central channels, a high-quality DAC is used, and for others it is inexpensive. This reduces not only the price of the final device, but also the quality of multi-channel sound.

EAX

Before choosing a computer sound card, ask if EAX supports hardware. In addition, be sure to specify which version is used. To date, the oldest is 5.0.

In simple terms, EAX is an audio positioning technology. The closest analogue is DirectSound3D. It controls the coordinates of the audio source in the three-dimensional space. In computer games, this system is used most often, with its help effects are added to the game, creating the illusion of remoteness of the sound source and its location relative to the listener (left, right, behind).

To what has already been said, we need to add that EAX emulates reflections and reverberations. This gives the user a sense of the parameters of the game world. For an open world, a cramped room and an empty multi-storey building, the character of the same audio record will be different.

ASIO

ASIO is a protocol used to transmit audio information with minimal delays. Recording in special applications is almost impossible if ASIO does not support a sound card for the computer. How to choose the best option?

For musicians, the availability of this technology is mandatory. If the computer is not used as a recording studio, but as a multimedia combine, ASIO can be considered an optional feature.

Midi interface

If the user is going to write the arrangements, then what should a sound card for the computer have, how to choose the right device? An important feature of audio boards is the presence of midi-inputs and outputs. With their help you can connect synthesizers and musical keyboards.

With the help of such an interface, an analog signal is not fed into the sound device, but information about which key is pressed, to the end it is lowered, with what force and speed the user pressed it. All data is transferred to the program, and the program already plays the sound. And the possibilities of these programs are enormous. You can use those that emulate real instruments (for example, piano, guitar, drums), and you can create your own unique and nothing like a preset.

Phantom power

If the use of a condenser microphone for voice recording is implied , it should be noted that not every sound card for a computer can work with such equipment. How to choose the right device? It's simple - ask about the presence of phantom power on the audio board. Remember that dynamic microphones require the absence of this element! Phantom power can disable them.

Instrumental and line inputs

If you are going to install an audio card in your computer to record an electric guitar, it must have an instrumental input (another name is high impedance).

The level of its resistance is quite high (about 1 megaohm), which makes it possible to transmit a signal from the instrument to the computer without losses. If you connect the guitar to the normal input, a significant part of the overtones and low frequencies will be lost, which will make the sound deaf. In this case, a beautiful sound will not be recorded, but a deaf sound with loss of low frequencies. A large microphone jack is often used as a connector.

Line In is required to connect various stereo devices (a player, a vinyl record player) to the audio board. Usually, each channel uses its own connector. You can not connect a guitar or microphone to it, the volume of recording in this case will be very quiet.

Built-in preamplifier

The preamplifier is another module that can be equipped with a sound card for the computer. How to choose a suitable one and which one is better - with or without it?

First you need to understand what a preamplifier is. The amplitude of the signal that goes from the microphone to the input is very low. For recording, you have to amplify it, and then stabilize the volume. It is this function that is assigned to the preamplifier. Not all audio cards have it in stock. Even if the device has an input for a microphone, the preamplifier may not be there. Then his work is engaged in software. However, in this case the amplitude of not only the useful signal but also the noise with the pickup increases.

We choose a sound card for PC: is the preamplifier mandatory?

For musicians or speakers, the presence of a preamplifier will be a good bonus. But in this case there was a fly in the ointment. The quality of the built-in amplifiers is almost always quite modest, the price due to this built-in element rises significantly. I must say that you can always add an additional device of this type, so you do not need to write it down in the list.

Conclusion

Since you can not choose a sound card without wasting time, you will have to familiarize yourself with a large number of offers from different computer equipment stores. Of course, if you do not want to study the numbers, you can go another way - by comparison. To do this, you need to listen to the same audio on different devices. In this case, the one that sounds most pleasing is suitable.

Remember that the audio card is only part of the audio playback system. Also need a high-quality amplifier and sound speakers. Without them, all efforts aimed at selecting equipment will be in vain.