What is a multimedia audio controller?

Currently the term "multimedia" is very actively used in modern computer technology. No one is surprised by the expressions "multimedia audio controller", "multimedia application" or "multimedia computer". As is often the case, many use the term without a true understanding of its meaning.

In the generalized sense, multimedia is one of the ways of interacting audio and video effects controlled by the program. Includes images (photo and video), sound, text and supports interactive management of their interaction. With respect to computer technology, the term acquired a narrower meaning approximately 10-15 years ago.

According to the above definition, almost any computer game is multimedia, even Tetris with the output of sound is not on the multimedia audio controller, but on the speaker-pshchalku. However, few people can call it multimedia. Computers became really multimedia only with the appearance of convenient capacious media (the first of them were compact discs) and high-quality audio output devices (audio controllers).

If the multimedia audio controller does not work properly, it seriously reduces the possibility of using the computer as a multimedia solution. In modern applications it is just as important as the video adapter. Multimedia audio controller is sometimes called a sound card, because it is responsible for sound output. Physically, there are three modifications: an expansion board that plugs into a free PCI or PCI-Express slot; An AC97 or HD Audio codec on the motherboard; External device that connects to the USB connector. The operation of most computer components is possible only because the appropriate driver is installed. Multimedia audio controller is also no exception. The driver is a small control program, thanks to which the operating system, and hence any running application, gets the opportunity to interact with the device. It is installed once and is registered in the system. If the multimedia driver audio driver is not installed, then audio output is impossible, although physically (board, microchip) the device can be fully operational.

Often in the forums you can meet the statements of newcomers, according to which they did not install any drivers for the audio controller, but in the operating system Windows there is sound. This is explained quite simply: many operating systems (including Linux) already contain drivers for most popular devices, so when installing the system from the database on the distribution, automatically and imperceptibly for the user, they are installed for all components of the computer. The need to select and install drivers themselves occurs in two cases:

• There are no corresponding programs in the operating system database. This is possible in the case of connecting to the computer too new equipment, which the operating system does not "know". It is not difficult to guess that the Windows distribution includes drivers only those devices that existed at the time the system was available for sale. Moreover, support for many specific components is also missing. With the new components there is always a driver disk;
• The user decided to update the driver of the device installed in the system. Manufacturers of components (especially video and audio adapters) periodically release updated versions of software for their devices. Installing a new version often improves the performance of the corresponding component of the computer, gives it new features and capabilities. The update can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website.