\paperw8325 \margr0\margl0\ATXph0 \plain \fs20 \f1 A multimedia computer isnít complete without a sound card and a set of speakers. For many years now, the sound card marke
t has been dominated by a single company, Creative Labs, who produce a range of cards under the name of SoundBlaster, which is now accepted as the industry standard. As a minimum, you should check any sound card for compatibility with a SoundBlaster card
. \par
\par
You will then need to consider what type of sound you are expecting it to produce. There are two basic types of sound ñ a straightforward digital recording, and a MIDI file. The former sound is encapsulated into a digitalised file, which is
then played through the cardís circuitry. For this, the card needs to have good quality audio circuits, but doesnít need to make any modification or variation to the sound. A MIDI file, however, is a completely different matter, as this is effectively j
ust a musical score describing the notes that should be played and the instrument that should be playing them. It is then up to the card to synthesise the sound of the instrument in question, and to vary this synthesis to produce the correct pitch.
