The Different Types of Audio Devices

The audio functions support six types of audio devices:

Auxiliary audio devices which get mixed with MIDI and waveform audio in a multimedia computer.

Waveform input devices to convert analog audio signals into digital information.

Waveform output devices to convert digital audio information into analog audio signals.

MIDI input ports to receive MIDI information from external MIDI devices.

MIDI output ports to send MIDI information to external MIDI devices like keyboards and drum machines.

Internal MIDI synthesizers to synthesize music from MIDI information sent by applications.

Internal MIDI synthesizer devices and MIDI output ports are both MIDI output devices. They use the same entry-point function and receive the same messages. However, instead of sending MIDI data to an output port, an internal synthesizer device converts the MIDI data into music or sound.