Audio Drivers

While millions of people enjoy using their computers to download and listen to music, very few users understand exactly how this all works. And when something goes wrong with the system and you can’t hear your favorite song or the movie you’ve just downloaded, what do you do? A common reaction is to blame the speakers or what many people refer to as the “sound card”.

All computers have some type of sound card or audio card, whether it is a separate, replaceable card or a chip integrated onto the motherboard. An audio card is “A computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.” (Wikipedia) It basically converts digital signals to analog allowing you to hear your music.

Your computer may have a separate audio card installed or may not. “Many modern computers do not have sound expansion cards but instead have the same technology integrated directly onto the motherboard.” (E-How) Regardless of which type of audio card you have, you will have a specific driver for it. The driver is “a low-level program that handles the data connections between the physical hardware and the operating system.” (Wikipedia)

Audio drivers can be included on your operating system or can be included on a CD when you buy an audio card. It is very important that these drivers be the correct ones for your specific audio card and that they be kept up to date. If they are not, it is likely that they may be the source of your problems. Outdated audio card drivers can cause freezes or crashes or you may have no sound at all. (E-How)

“Most of the time when you suspect a sound card problem, one of the first things that you should do is to update the driver.” (Tech Republic) Drivers can be subject to bugs, viruses or file corruption, which can lead to more serious errors. Outdated drivers or the wrong driver for your particular device may cause hardware conflicts. “For example, if your sound card won’t co-operate with your CD-ROM drive, you may not be able to play music CDs on your computer or your computer may completely crash every time you attempt to do so.” (Driver Download Hub)

So if you are experiencing audio problems, before you consider buying a new audio card or having expensive repairs done, check into updating the audio drivers. “Updating or installing the latest drivers for a sound card will help with the compatibility, reliability and/or the performance of the sound card.” (Computer Hope)

To update your drivers, you must know the exact specifications for your sound card—manufacturer and model number. This can be difficult to locate in some cases, particularly with generic cards made overseas, as the manufacturer may not clearly label the product. (Computor Edge) If you are using Windows XP or Vista, you can use the Device Manager utility to determine what cards and drivers are installed on your computer. If you cannot find the information, you might consider using one of the driver locater programs such as Driver Detective or visit an online site such as Driver Guide or PC Driver. These sites offer scans to identify drivers on your computer and check for available updates.

If you can identify your audio card, you simply need to make a note of what version driver you have installed and go to the card manufacturer’s website to see if there is a newer version available. This should be easily downloadable. “Drivers on sound card manufacturers websites will frequently be available as a self-installing executable so all you have to do is run the install program.” (E-How) Manufacturers generally update drivers on a fairly regular basis or they may be updated and corrected in response to a known issue. It is a good idea to update your drivers regularly if your computer does not do so automatically. Keeping your audio drivers updated can help avoid future problems and keep your music playing.