Unless you add a measurement instrument to your computer, you have only the sound card as an analog I/O port. You can use the sound card to digitize ac analog voltages but only within a limited range. You can, however, add some signal processing and measure a wider variety of signals, even those that produce dc or low-frequency outputs. Here some links to sound card measurement projects:
HOW TO – Modify a PC sound card to allow D.C. voltage measurements
CheapChop: measuring DC with a sound card
Measuring DC with a Sound Card
Measure resistance and temperature with a sound card
Sound card thermometer/ohmmeter
“2-Pound RLC Meter impedance measurement using a sound card,” Elektor, June 2008, pg 64.
12 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
I found an interesting software to add to soundcard measurement software list:
Christian Zeitnitz Soundcard Oscilloscope
The PC based Soundcard Oscilloscope receives its data from the Soundcard with 44.1kHz and 16 Bit resolution. The data source can be selected in the Windows mixer (Microphone, Line-In or Wave).
Besides normal oscilloscope view there are additional features like: x-y mode, Frequency analysis (Fourier spectrum), Waterfall diagram (frequency spectrum as function of time), Frequency filter (low-, high- and band-pass), Cursors to measure amplitude, Audio Recorder to save data to a wave file.
The oscilloscope contains in addition a signal generator for 2 channels.
The program has completely been written in LabView
This program will run on Windows 2000/XP/Vista computers with a sound card and 30MByte space on disk.
http://www.zeitnitz.de/Christian/scope_en
The use of the software and of the documentation is granted free of charge for private and non-commercial use in educational institutions
Any commercial application requires a corresponding license.
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USB soundcard to digital storage oscilloscope « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog says:
[...] Adapter to build a cheap PC based digital storage oscilloscope. Sound card based oscilloscope is not new to me, I have used it sometimes. There are many free oscilloscope software that you can use. For example [...]
Tomi Engdahl says:
Measure resistance and temperature with a sound card
http://www.edn.com/design/consumer/4368082/Measure-resistance-and-temperature-with-a-sound-card
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In such cases, first you need to check the hardware component of Soundcard to see it that working fine or not and change it if it has problem but for any other technical problems like driver and other issue better to check with system support center or a laptop repair technician as they ca help you better in fixing such issues.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Soundcard Oscilloscope
https://www.zeitnitz.eu/Scope_en
Tomi Engdahl says:
tracking down noise
https://www.facebook.com/100057075055122/posts/410663614179470/?d=n
Measuring Micro Volt Noise with your Sound Card!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C73N_rp75Gc&feature=youtu.be
Tomi Engdahl says:
Use your PC Soundcard as an Oscilloscope, a Signal Generator, and a Spectrum Analyzer (Arta, REW)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0QkL8xMmE
Oscilloscopes and signal generators are handy tools in our labs. Unfortunately, they are not cheap. What if you had such devices already and did not know?
All newer PCs have loudspeakers and a microphone. So they can create sound as well as record it. And usually in decent quality. Like oscilloscopes and signal generators! We only need a connection and software to create the desired waveforms and visualize the measured voltages. Fortunately, such software is available. And the best: We can use it free of charge!