Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Note
The XLR connector is also known as a cannon plug or cannon connector because it was first
developed by James H. Cannon of Cannon Electric. The three-pin XLR connector shown in
Figure 13.3
is used for balanced audio connections for microphones and other equipment.
Other XLR connections have four or more connections, and various types are used by dual-
elementmicrophonesandheadsets,intercombackpacks,lightingcontrolorfogmachinecon-
trol.
•
Socketed Op Amp chips
—The quality of the Op Amp (operational amplifier) chips
(also called OPA or OpAmp chips) used on a sound card affect the sound quality, as
these chips are used to amplify analog audio. To enable users to customize the audio
quality of their sound cards, several sound card vendors produce cards with socketed
Op Amp chips (see
Table 13.2
for details).
Table 13.2 Sound Cards with Socketed Op Amp Chips
Adding Advanced Sound Features Without Replacing Onboard
Audio
If you use a laptop computer or an all-in-one desktop computer that lacks expansion slots,
or if you don't want to open your system to perform an audio upgrade, you can install USB-
based audio processors.
When you consider a USB-based solution, keep in mind that, unlike a normal sound card
upgrade, you don't need to disable your existing onboard sound or remove a sound card.
USB-based audio can coexist with existing sound cards. Typically, as with most hardware,
the most recently installed hardware in a category becomes the default, but you can switch
back to the original audio hardware through the Windows Control Panel Sound properties
sheet.
Beyondtheabilitytoaddaudiotoalmostanyrecentsystem,USB-basedaudioisparticularly
appealing if your current sound card or onboard audio doesn't support 5.1 or 7.1 audio, can't
digitize sound at 24-bit/96KHz rates, or lacks digital outputs.
Before you purchase a new sound card or USB-based audio solution for a desktop computer,
you should check your system or motherboard documentation to see whether you already
have six-channel audio onboard. If your motherboard features six-channel (5.1) or better au-
dio output but the only ports built into the rear of the motherboard are for a normal stereo
