---
title: "Audio software"
subject: "Multimedia System"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_8/multimedia_system:audio-software"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/multimedia_system/audio-software
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Audio software

Multimedia System · Chapter 2: Sound / Audio System

- Asked in: 2071 Bhadra, 4 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/multimedia_system/audio-software
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/multimedia_system/chapter-2

## Question

Explain the audio software.

## Short answer

Audio software includes drivers and OS services, recording/editing tools like Audacity, MIDI sequencers, codecs and converters, players, speech recognition/synthesis, and authoring tools. It accesses sound hardware through drivers.

## Answer

Audio software is the group of programs that let a user record, edit, process, store, convert and play sound on a computer. It works with the sound-card hardware through drivers.

#### Types of audio software

1. **Drivers and operating-system audio services.** Low-level software that lets applications access the sound card (for example DirectSound and WASAPI in Windows, ALSA in Linux). Without a driver the card cannot be used.
2. **Audio recorders and editors** (Audacity, Adobe Audition, Sound Forge). Functions:
   - recording from microphone or line-in,
   - cut, copy, paste and trim of waveform segments,
   - mixing several tracks,
   - effects: echo, reverb, fade in/out, equalisation, pitch and speed change,
   - noise removal and normalisation.
3. **MIDI software** (sequencers such as Cubase, FL Studio). Used to compose and edit MIDI music note by note, assign instruments and tempo.
4. **Compression and conversion software / codecs.** Convert between formats (WAV, MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA) and reduce size with lossy or lossless compression.
5. **Audio players** (VLC, Windows Media Player, Winamp). Decode and play files, with playlist and equaliser.
6. **Speech software.** Speech recognition (dictation) and text-to-speech engines.
7. **Authoring tools.** Add sound to multimedia products with synchronisation to animation and video.

Good audio software supports many file formats and sampling rates and allows editing without damaging the original (non-destructive editing).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What happens to the sound card if no driver is installed?
   A. It cannot be used by applications
   B. It works with better quality
   C. It plays only MIDI
   D. It switches to a software DAC
   Answer: A. Without a driver the card cannot be used because applications access it through drivers. (Key point: Why drivers matter)

2. Which task is done by an audio recorder/editor such as Audacity?
   A. Composing MIDI note by note with a sequencer
   B. Cut, copy, paste, mix tracks, add echo and remove noise
   C. Providing the sound card's DAC
   D. Amplifying speakers
   Answer: B. Audio editors record, trim, mix, add effects and remove noise. (Key point: Editor functions)

3. What is MIDI software (sequencer) used for?
   A. Converting WAV to MP3
   B. Playing audio with a playlist
   C. Composing and editing music note by note, assigning instruments and tempo
   D. Recognising speech
   Answer: C. Sequencers like Cubase compose and edit MIDI note by note, with instruments and tempo. (Key point: MIDI software)

4. What does non-destructive editing mean for good audio software?
   A. The original is permanently overwritten
   B. Only MP3 files can be edited
   C. Editing is impossible
   D. Editing can be done without damaging the original
   Answer: D. Good audio software allows editing without damaging the original sound. (Key point: Non-destructive editing)

## Related in Multimedia System

- [Audio hardware and audio software](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Aaudio-hardware-software) — Multimedia System, chapter 2