drivers

[Soulja]

I'm actually looking for an explanation about soundcard Drivers. WHat is a driver exactly and what is the right kind? I've got a Sony VAIO laptop (FRV) and I've recently purchased the M-Audio 410. What is the signifigance of the driver. Thanks

[tmix]

Here is my oversimplified answer.
Drivers are custom oriented software programs written to facilitate the operation of secondary piece of hardware that is being interfaced and run by the host computer.
In other words, when you introduce a piece of hardware such as a sound card, the driver serves as a instruction set to the computer as to how the card works, where it gets its information, how to route the info etc,etc.
Badly written drivers can make a good piece of hardware worthless.

Hope that helps some.
tom

[Soulja]

Thanks for the info.