Page 1
Xonar D-Kara
PCI 5.1 Karaoke Audio Card
User manual
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ii
E7404
First Edition
June 2012
Copyright © 2012 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any
means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written
permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing.
ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE),
EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY
DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR
INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE,
AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO
RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS
MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identication or explanation and to the
owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.
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Contents
Contents ...................................................................................................... iii
Notices ......................................................................................................... iv
Safety information ....................................................................................... v
Trademarks ................................................................................................... v
License ......................................................................................................... v
1. Introduction ..................................................................................... 1
1.1 Package contents .............................................................. 1
1.2 System requirements ......................................................... 1
1.3 Specications summary ..................................................... 2
2. Xonar D-Kara card layout ............................................................... 3
3. Installing the hardware ................................................................... 5
3.1 Installing the audio card ..................................................... 5
3.2 Connecting to a TV tuner card ........................................... 6
4. Installing software ........................................................................... 7
Installing the card driver .................................................................... 7
5. Connecting speakers and peripherals .......................................... 8
5.1 Connecting digital speaker systems (Home Theater) ........ 8
5.2 Connecting stereo headphones ......................................... 9
5.3 Connecting analog speaker systems ............................... 10
5.4 Connecting a microphone ................................................ 14
5.5 Connecting Line-In audio sources ................................... 15
6. Xonar Audio Center....................................................................... 16
6.1 Xonar Audio Center GUI .................................................. 16
6.2 Xonar D-Kara Audio Center Icon ..................................... 18
6.3 Music Main Settings ......................................................... 19
6.4 Mixer/Volume ................................................................... 20
6.5 Effects .............................................................................. 22
6.6 FlexBass .......................................................................... 24
6.7 Karaoke Main Settings ..................................................... 25
6.8 Mixer ................................................................................ 32
6.9 Enhancer .......................................................................... 35
7. Troubleshooting and FAQs .......................................................... 36
7.1 Troubleshooting ............................................................... 36
7.2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ................................. 37
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iv
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
•
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
•
This device must accept any interference received including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
•
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the
Canadian Department of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
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v
This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical
and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local
regulations for disposal of electronic products.
Safety information
•
Before installing the device on a motherboard, carefully read all the manuals
that came with the package.
•
To prevent electrical shock hazard or short circuits, switch off the power supply
before installing the device on a motherboard or connecting any signal cables
to the device.
•
If the device is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
•
Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected. If you
detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
•
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from
connectors, sockets, and circuitry.
•
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in
any area where it may be exposed to moisture.
•
Place the product on a stable surface.
•
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied
service technician or your retailer.
Trademarks
Xonar and ASUS logo are trademarks of ASUSTek Computer Inc. “Dolby”
and “Dolby Digital Live”, “Dolby Pro Logic IIx”, “Dolby Virtual Speaker”, “Dolby
Headphone” are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. EAX and A3D are trademarks
of Creative Technology Ltd. Microsoft, DirectSound3D, and Windows are
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other company and product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. ASIO is a
trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
License
Dolby Master Studio driver is manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
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1ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
1. Introduction
1.1 Package contents
• ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI audio card
• Driver/User Manual CD x1
• Quick Start Guide x1
1.2 System requirements
• One PCI 2.2 (or higher) compatible slot for the audio card
• Microsoft® Windows® 7 (32/64bit) / Vista (32/64bit) / XP (32/64bit) / MCE2005
• Intel® Pentium® 4 1.4 GHz or AMD® Athlon 1400 CPU or faster CPU
• 256 MB (or above) DRAM system memory
• 60 MB available HDD space for driver installation package
• CD-ROM drive (or DVD-ROM drive ) for software installation
• High-quality headphones or powered analog speakers
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2 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
1.3 Specications summary
*Specications are subject to change without notice.
Items Description
Audio Performance
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 106 dB for Speaker Out
Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 102 dB
Output Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (AWeighted):
Up to 0.0013% (-98dB)
Input Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1 kHz (AWeighted):
Up to 0.0013% (-98dB)
Frequency Response (-3dB, 24-bit/96kHz input): <10Hz to 48kHz
Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage 1 Vrms (2.828Vp-p)
Bus Compatibility
PCI PCI v2.2 or above bus compatible
Main Chipset
Audio Processor C-Media CM8786 High-Performance Sound Processor (Max.
96KHz/24-bit)
D-A Converter of Digital Sources: Cirrus Logic CS47028
- 8 Channels of DAC output: 108dB DR, -98dB THD+N
- 4 Channels of ADC input: 105dB DR, -98dB THD+N
A-D Converter for Analog Inputs:
Sample Rate and Resolution
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution 44.1K / 48K / 96KHz @ 16 / 24-bit for all channels
Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution 44.1K / 48K / 96KHz @ 16 / 24-bit for all channels
S / PDIF Digital Output: 44.1K / 48K / 96KHz @ 16 / 24-bit for all channels
ASIO 2.0 Driver Support: 44.1K / 48K / 96KHz @ 16 / 24-bit for all channels
I/O Ports
Analog Output Jack: 3.50mm mini jack *3 (Front / Side / Center-Subwoofer)
Analog Input Jack: 3.50mm mini jack *2 (Line-In / Mic-In)
Other line-level analog input (for CD-In / TV Tuner): Aux-In (4-pin header on the card)
Digital S / PDIF Output High-bandwidth Optical Connector supports 96KHz/24-bit
Front-Panel Audio Header Supports headphone jack-detection, automatic switching of
audio output from back panel to front panel
S / PDIF Header Additional SPDIF-out header for connecting graphics card with
HDMI audio output
Driver Features
Operation System Windows 7 / Vista / XP (32/64-bit) / MCE2005
Software 10-band Equalizer, 27 Environmental Effects, Enhancer, Mixer
Size (Width x Height) 106.15mm x 178.06mm
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3ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
2. Xonar D-Kara card layout
No Item Description
1 Microphone In port
Connect an external PC microphone to this 3.5mm port.
2 Line In port
Connect analog devices like MP3 players, CD players,
music synthesizers and other line-level sound sources to this
3.5mm port for audio recording or processing.
3
Headphone/Front
Out port
Connect your headphones or 2-channel speakers to this
port. For multi-channel speaker systems, this port connects
to the front left/right input on the speakers.
4
Side Surround Out
port
Connects to the surround channel input on 4/5.1 powered
analog speakers.
5
Center/Subwoofer
Out port
Connects to the center/subwoofer input on 5.1 powered
analog speakers.
6 S/PDIF Out port
This optical TOSLINK digital output port connects to external
digital decoders or digital speaker systems, home theater
systems, and AV receivers for outputting digital audio such
as PCM, DTS Digital, DTS, WMA-Pro, etc.
1
2
4
6
7 8 9
5
3
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4 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
7 Front Panel Header
This 9-pin Intel® AC’97/HDA front-panel port supports auto
jack-detection and auto FP Headphone selection for Analog
Out on the Audio Center.
8 Aux Input Header
This 4-pin header connects to the Analog Audio output of TV
tuner cards or other sound devices inside your PC.*
*To monitor your TV tuner card’s audio from this Aux-In, you
must enable the “monitor” function for Aux-In in the Xonar
Audio Center software’s recording mixer.
9 S/PDIF Out Header
Connects to a graphics card with HDMI support
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5ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
3. Installing the hardware
3.1 Installing the audio card
Before you proceed with the following installation steps, it’s recommended
that you disable your onboard audio device in your BIOS settings, or uninstall
any other audio cards on your PC. (For BIOS settings or uninstallation of other
sound cards, refer to the user manuals of your motherboard and audio card.)
Installing the Xonar D-Kara card
1. Power OFF the computer, the monitor, and all other peripheral devices
connected to your computer.
2. Unplug the computer power cord from your computer and power outlet.
3. Touch the metal back or side panel of the computer to avoid static electricity.
4. Remove the chassis cover.
5. Remove the metal bracket from an available PCI slot for the Xonar D-Kara
audio card.
6. Carefully insert the audio card into the PCI slot until the card is seated rmly
in place.
7. Secure the audio card with screws and the metal bracket.
8. Replace the chassis cover.
9. Reconnect all cables.
10. Plug the power cord to the computer and to a power outlet.
11. Power ON the computer.
1
2
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6 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
3.2 Connecting to a TV tuner card
1.
If you have a traditional PCI TV tuner card on your PC, you may need to
connect it to the Xonar D-Kara card to send the tuner card’s sound to your
PC speakers.
2. Secure the PCI TV tuner card and screw it into the back-panel.
3. Connect the audio output header from the TV tuner card to the Aux-In header
of the Xonar D-Kara card.
For optimum TV audio quality, Xonar D-Kara uses ADC recording to digitize the
signal and loop it back for DAC playback. Select Aux-In as the recording source
in the Xonar D-Kara Center’s recording mixer and enable the monitoring button
to pass this signal to the audio output. Using this setup, you can even turn on
sound effects such as Dolby headphone to expand the stereo TV audio to 5.1
channel surround sound in any set of headphones. TV audio on your PC will
become even better than on your TV set.
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7ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
4. Installing software
Installing the card driver
Install the audio card driver before installing the Xonar D-Kara driver. Otherwise,
driver installation error may occur.
1. After you have installed the Xonar D-Kara card, turn on your computer.
Windows® automatically detects the audio card and searches for device
drivers. When prompted for the drivers, click Cancel.
2. Insert the support CD into the optical drive. If Autorun is enabled on your
system, the setup starts automatically. If not, run setup.exe from your
support CD.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to nish the installation.
The version and content of the support CD are subject to change without notice.
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8 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
5. Connecting speakers and peripherals
5.1 Connecting digital speaker systems (Home Theater)
The Xonar D-Kara makes surround sound playback through your home theater
system possible. A single digital cable connection can carry high-quality digital
audio from any of your PC audio sources to any digital speakers or AV Receivers.
No Item Description
1 Optical cable
Plug your decoder’s TOSLINK optical cable into the S/PDIFOut connector.
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
1
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9ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
5.2 Connecting stereo headphones
5.2.1 Connecting Stereo Headphones
No Item Description
1 Front Out/Headphone
Jack
Connect stereo headphones directly to this port.
1
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10 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
5.3 Connecting analog speaker systems
5.3.1 Connecting an analog power amplier
No Item Description
1 Front Out
Connect “left front” and “right front” input ports of the analog
amplier to the Front L/R port.
2 Side Surround Out
Connect “left surround” and “right surround” input ports of the
analog amplier to the Side L/R port.
3 Center/Subwoofer
Connect “center” and “subwoofer” input ports of the analog
amplier to the Center/Sub port.
1
2
3
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11ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
5.3.2 Connecting 2 Channel Speakers
No Item Description
1 Front Out/Headphone
Jack
Connect the speaker set’s 3.5mm plug to Front L/R port.
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
AUDIO
INPUTS
1
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12 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
5.3.3 Connecting 4 Channel Speakers
No Item Description
1 Front Out
Connect the front input port of the 4 channel speakers with
the 3.5mm plug.
2 Side Surround Out
Connect the Surround input port of the 4 channel speakers
with the 3.5mm plug.
AUDIO
INPUTS
Side
AUDIO
INPUTS
Front
1
2
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13ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
5.3.4 Connecting 5.1 Channel Speakers
No Item Description
1 Front Out
Connect the front input port of the 5.1 speakers with the
3.5mm plug.
2 Side Surround Out
Connect the Surround input port of the 5.1 speakers with the
3.5mm plug.
3 Center/Subwoofer
Connect the Center/Subwoofer input port of the 5.1 speakers
with the 3.5mm plug.
Side
Front
Center/
Subwoofer
AUDIO
INPUTS
123
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14 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
5.4 Connecting a microphone
No Item Description
1 Microphone Input
Jack
Connect the microphone’s 3.5mm plug to the Mic In port.
2 Headphone Jack
Connect headphone plugs to the Front L/R port.
1
2
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15ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
5.5 Connecting Line-In audio sources
No Item Description
1 Line Input Jack
Connect the 3.5mm plug of the CD/MP3 Player or any
other Line level analog audio sources into the Line-In port
for sound recording (See the “Mixer” section of this User
Manual).
SPDIF Out
Mic In
Line In
Front L/R
Side L/R
Center/Sub
CD Player
MP3 Player
1
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16 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6. Xonar Audio Center
6.1 Xonar Audio Center GUI
1. After driver installation is complete and your computer has been rebooted,
you will nd the Xonar Audio Center’s icon in the system tray on the bottom
right-hand corner of the screen. Double click this icon to open the Xonar
Audio Center utility.
If the icon does not appear on the system tray, launch the Xonar Audio Center
from the Windows desktop by clicking Start > All Programs > ASUS Xonar
D-Kara > Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
2. The Xonar Audio Center is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the Xonar
D-Kara driver. You can control the functions and features of the Xonar DKara driver on the Xonar Audio Center. The following picture shows a basic
overview of the Xonar Audio Center. The following sections of this manual will
describe its functions in more detail.
1
3
4
5
6
7
2
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17ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
1 Display Area
This display area shows the 10-band signal meter, volume
level, status of preset, equalizer, and signal output.*
*This area displays information, but is not used to change
settings.
2 Menu Open/Close
Clicking this button will reveal the conguration settings.
Clicking it again will move the display area back to its original
position and hide the conguration area.
3 Master Volume
This knob controls the master playback volume. Turn to
change the volume level.
4 SVN Button
Click this button to enable the “Smart Volume Normalization”
feature for consistent volume levels from all playback
sources. It will display a blue light when enabled.
5 Mute Button
Click this button to mute audio playback. It will display a red
light when playback is muted.
6 Settings Tab
Two tabs are available for quick access to Music Playback
and Karaoke features.
7 Settings Menu Panel
This panel provides access to audio settings, including Main
Settings, Mixer/Volume, Effects, FlexBass, and Enhancer.
To start using the Karaoke features of the Xonar D-Kara, plug in your
microphone and click the Karaoke tab in the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
Click the Mixer option and select “microphone”.
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18 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
1 Information icon
Click this icon to display driver options. Double-click the icon
to launch the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
2 Restore
Click to restore Xonar Audio Center application window.
3 About AsusAudio
Center
Click to nd out more about Audio Center version.
4 Edit Hot Keys
Click to edit shortcut keys for volume control, master presets,
sampling rate, and analog out.
5 Master Preset
Click to apply a master preset.
6 Exit
Click to exit.
6.2 Xonar D-Kara Audio Center Icon
1
3
4
5
2
6
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19ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.3 Music Main Settings
No Item Description
1 Audio Channel
The audio channel refers to the available speaker channels
that can be used to mix sounds. Select an audio channel
based on your speaker system ( 2CH, 4 CH, 5.1 CH, or 7.1
CH).
2 Sample Rate
The sample rate determines the number of audio samples
per second that the Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC) and
S/PDIF digital interface will output.
Please select the sample rate that corresponds to (or
exceeds that of) your playback sources for optimal audio
delity. The Xonar D-Kara audio card supports sample rates
up to 96KHz (44.1K, 48K, 96KHz). Typical values for sample
rates are:
- Audio CD, MP3, WMA, Wave les are 44.1 KHz
- DVD-video audio is 48KHz
- DVD-Audio or other HD media may contain 96KHz highdenition audio content
3 Analog Out
The analog out setting denes your actual speaker
setting, such as front headphones, rear headphones,
Dolby headphones, Dolby rear headphones, 2 speakers,
4 speakers, or 5.1 speakers. Xonar D-Kara will play the
channels and process the proper 3D surround sound
accordingly.
4 S/PDIF Output
S/PDIF output enables a single digital connection to carry
high quality audio from your PC to digital speakers and AV
receivers via PCM.*
*PCM - Pulse Code Modulation is a typical raw audio data
format.
1
2
3
4
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20 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.4 Mixer/Volume
The mixer page is designed to control the volume for playback and recording on
the Xonar D-Kara. The Xonar D-Kara also provides a high-quality digital monitoring
function for playing the recorded audio from the speakers.
6.4.1 Playback Volume
No Item Description
1 Playback Volume Tab
Click this button to show the playback volume page.
2 Source/Path Name
Left and Right volume controls for each speaker/channel.
3 Mute/Unmute button
Click this button to mute or unmute the audio channel.
4 Volume Slider
Drag this slider down to decrease the volume; drag it up
to increase the volume. The tool-tip displays percentage
increments.
5 Reset
Click to reset all volume controls to the default settings.
1
4
3
5
2
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21ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.4.2 Recording/Monitoring Volume
No Item Description
1 Recording Volume Tab
Click this button to show the recording volume page.
2 Recording volume
slider
Drag this slider down to decrease the recording volume; drag
up to increase the recording volume. The tool-tip displays
percentage increments.
3 Recording Selector
button
Click this button to select the path/source you are going to
record. The recording function on Windows is a one-path
selector. Only one default recording source can be used at a
time. You may have to restart the recorder application if you
switch to a different source.*
*On Windows Vista, some application programs allow you
to select the recording device/path in the application itself.
4 Monitoring button
Click this button to monitor and loopback recording audio to
output speakers. The recording volume will affect monitoring
signals from speaker output. The audio will be mixed into
the streams from your PC and all digital audio effects will be
applied to both the source and the output.
5 Source/Path Name
Displays the source name for each volume control slider:
FP MIC: Recording from MIC front panel jack
RP MIC: Recording from MIC rear panel jack
Aux: Recording from Aux-In sources such as TV-
tuner audio cards or other audio sources
Line-In: Recording from Line-In jack for external audio
devices
6 Reset
Click to reset all volume controls to the default settings.
1
2
6
5
3
4
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22 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.5 Effects
6.5.1 Environment Effects
Environment effects can be used to create realistic listening experiences that
mimic different environments. There are 27 available environment options that be
can be applied to music and other 2D sound sources.
No Item Description
1 Default environments
There are four default environments available: Bathroom,
Concert hall, Underwater, and Music Pub.
2 More options
Clicking this button will apply the environment effect selected
from the pull-down menu. 23 additional options are available
in this menu.
3 Environment size
Three size settings are available for each environment:
Large, Medium, and Small.
1
2
3
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23ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.5.2 10-Band Equalizer
The equalizer can modify the audio output for different frequencies and can be
used to compensate for deciencies in your speakers/sound system. You can
create custom settings in addition to the 12 default patterns available.
No Item Description
1 Default equalizer
options
There are 12 available equalizer patterns. Click an item to
apply a pattern to audio playback.
2 User Dened
You can click this button to apply a selected User Dened
setting.
3 Equalizer slider
Adjusts the gain for each band (30~16KHz)
4 Save name
Type a name for your own “User Dened” equalizer setting in
the text box.
5 Add / save
Click the “+” button to add the dened parameters to the
User Dened list as a preset.
6 Delete
Click the “–” button to delete a saved preset from the User
Dened list.
1
2
3
4
5
6
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6.6 FlexBass
FlexBass is an advanced bass management and enhancement mechanism that
allows you to select each satellite speaker’s type for optimal sound performance.
It comes with an adjustable crossover frequency for the boundary of the bass
signals. FlexBass will lter out the bass signals from small speaker channels and
redirect them to the subwoofer or large speakers.
No Item Description
1 On/Off
Click this button to disable or enable all FlexBass functions.
2 Small/Large speaker
option
Select the speaker type connected to the Xonar D-Kara. If
your speaker type cannot handle low-frequency signals
(bass), select “Small” speaker type. Xonar D-Kara will
lter out the bass signals and send them to the subwoofer
channel. If the speakers support full-range signals, you can
select the “Large” speaker type.*
*In most cases, low-cost desktop PC 2-channel speakers
are small-type speakers. Refer to speaker’s specications
or consult your speaker vendor to identify correct speaker
type. However, common 2.1 speakers with a subwoofer
should be categorized as large speakers because the
subwoofer can redirect the bass signals inside the two
channels to the subwoofer speaker automatically.
3. Picture for Small/
Large speaker
Small/large speakers are identied by their colors:
Orange: large speakers
Green: small speakers
Standard speakers that cannot produce low frequencies are considered “Small”
while wide-band speakers that can product low frequencies are categorized as
“Large.”
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2
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25ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
4 LFE Crossover
Frequency
Adjusts the cut-off frequency (50~250Hz) for LFE (LowFrequency Effects) signals. Xonar D-Kara will lter out bass
signals below the crossover frequency from small speaker
channels and forward them to the subwoofer. Higher
crossover frequency values would result in reduced bass
signals.
6.7 Karaoke Main Settings
65
1
2
4
3
To start using the Karaoke features of the Xonar D-Kara, plug in your
microphone and click the Karaoke tab in the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
Click the Mixer option and select “microphone”.
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26 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
1 Master Preset
The master preset lists multiple combinations of presets such
as EQ, Compressor, Reverb, and so on. Click this dropdown
box to select, save, or edit a master preset.
2 Select all/Unselect all
Click this checkbox to select all or unselect all presets.
3 Preset Checkbox
Click desired checkbox to apply a sound effect to playback
audio.
4 Preset
Click dropdown box to select presets or switch to Manual
Mode.
5 Advanced Setting
Click this button to access advanced controls and customize
presets.
6 Bypass
Click this button to temporarily disable all sound effects to
compare audio before and after sound effects are applied.
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27ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.7.1 Advanced Settings
No Item Description
1 Use mono microphone
Select check box if you are using a mono microphone to
balance the audio output.
2 Mic Boost On
Select check box to boost the microphone audio by 20dB.
3 Mix with Wave On
Select check box if you intend to record music audio with
your voice.
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2
3
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28 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
1
3
2
No Item Description
1 Master Preset
Click dropdown box to select, save, or edit a master preset.
2 Save as
Select a combination of presets and click Save as to create a
new master preset. You may also choose to adjust settings
for the current master preset.
3 Edit
Click edit to delete, rename, import, or export master preset.
6.7.2 Master Preset
The Master Preset is a quick way to save your preset combinations.
6.7.3 HPF/LPF
High Pass Filter affects frequency ranges below the set cutoff frequency. Low
Pass Filter applies to frequency ranges above the set cutoff frequency.
2
3
1
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29ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
No Item Description
1 Reset
Click to reset to default. The reset option is only available
under Manual Mode.
2 Preset
Click dropdown box to view current preset parameters
or select Manual Mode to change parameters under the
Advanced Settings Panel.
3 Center Frequency
This slider determines cutoff frequency. Drag the slider or
input specic values in the text box.
6.7.4 Dynamic Boost/Compressor
The dynamic boost/compressor is used for tightening up a section of audio after
hitting the threshold level. The expander reduces the dynamic range below the
threshold. This effect is used to add versatility to your audio tracks.
No Item Description
1 Preset
Click the dropdown box to view current preset parameters
or select Manual Mode to change parameters under the
Advanced Settings Panel.
2 Threshold
This setting determines the Threshold level when an effect is
applied to audio playback. Signals above the indicated value
are expanded while signals below the value are compressed.
Drag slider or type specic values in the text box.
3 Ratio
Ratio of signal expansion or compression when threshold is
met.
4 Attack Time
Amount of time before effect is applied to audio when the
signal level exceeds the threshold.
1
5
2
6
3
4
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30 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.7.5 EQ
No Item Description
1 Preset
Click the dropdown box to view current preset parameters
or select Manual Mode to change parameters under the
Advanced Settings Panel.
2 Frequency Band
Drag the slider up or down to change the gain of each
frequency band.
3 Reset
Click to reset settings to default. The reset option is only
available under Manual Mode.
1
2
3
No Item Description
5 Release Time
Amount of time before effect is applied after the signal level
falls below the threshold.
6 Soft Knee
Indicates the strength of an audio effect as sound reaches
threshold. Higher values result in gentler compression/
expansion.
7 Reset
Click to reset settings to default. The reset option is only
available under Manual Mode.
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6.7.6 Reverb
No Item Description
1 Preset
Click the dropdown box to view current preset parameters
or select Manual Mode to change parameters under the
Advanced Settings Panel.
2 Reverb
Intensity level of late reverbation
3 Reverb Delay
Time limit between early reection and late reverbation
4 Reections
Intensity level of early reection
5 Reections Delay
Delay time of rst reection
6 Decay Time
Reverbation decay time at low frequencies
7 Decay Ratio
Ratio of high frequency delay time relative to low frequency
delay time
8 HF Reference
High frequency threshold reference point
9 Diffusion
Echo density in late reverbation decay. High diffusion
represents regular density with an evenly spread out signal.
Low diffusion represents irregular and grainy sound.
10 Density
Modal density in late reverbation decay. High density
represents more natural sounding timber. Low density
represents more hollow or “colored” space like the bathroom.
11 Room
Intensity level for room effect
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4
5
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10
11
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7
8
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2
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13
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6.8 Mixer
6.8.1 Playback Volume
No Item Description
1 Playback Volume Tab
Click this button to show the playback volume page
2 Source/Path Name
Left and Right volume controls for each speaker/channel
3 Volume Slider
Drag this slider down to decrease the volume; drag it up
to increase the volume. The tool-tip displays percentage
increments.
4 Mute/Unmute button
Click this button to mute or unmute the audio channel.
5 Reset
Resets all volume controls to the default settings.
No Item Description
12 Room HF
Attenuation at high frequencies relative to intensity and low
frequencies.
13 Room Rolloff Factor
Intensity of room effect adjusted by distance.
14 Reset
Click to reset settings to default. The reset option is only
available under Manual Mode.
1
2
4
5
3
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33ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.8.2 Recording/Monitoring Volume
No Item Description
1 Recording Volume Tab
Click this button to show the recording volume page.
2 Recording volume
slider
Drag this slider down to decrease the recording volume; drag
up to increase the recording volume. The tool-tip displays the
percentage increments.
3 Recording Selector
button
Click this button to select the path/source you are going to
record. The recording function on Windows is a one-path
selector. Only one default recording source can be used at
a time. You may have to restart the recorder program if you
switch to a different source.*
*On Windows Vista, some application programs allow you
to select the recording device/path in the application itself.
4 Monitoring button
Click this button to monitor and loopback recording audio to
output speakers. The recording volume will affect monitoring
signals from speaker output. The audio will be mixed into the
streams from your PC and all DGP effects will be applied to
both the source and the output.
1
6 7
2
4
5
3
8
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No Item Description
5 Source/Path Name
This shows the source name for each volume control slider:
FP MIC: Recording from MIC front panel jack
RP MIC: Recording from MIC rear panel jack
Aux: Recording from Aux-In sources such as TV-
tuner audio cards or other audio sources
Line-In: Recording from Line-In jack for external audio
devices
6 Advanced Settings
button
Click this button to access advanced settings.
7 Reset
Click to reset all volume controls to the default settings.
8 Use mono
microphone
Select check box if you are using a mono microphone to
balance the audio output.
9 Mic Boost On
Select check box to boost the microphone audio by 20dB.
10 Mix with Wave On
Select check box if you intend to record music audio with
your voice.
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35ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
6.9 Enhancer
The Xonar D-Kara provides powerful features for karaoke, including Key-Shifting
and Vocal Cancellation. Key-Shifting can change the pitch of the karaoke
background music. Vocal Cancellation can reduce the original vocals in songs
while retaining the music and symphony for karaoke.
No Item Description
1 On/Off
Click this button to disable or enable all functions on this
page.
2 Key-Shifting
This checkbox is used to enable or disable key shifting for
music playback. This feature can adjust the pitch from 4
semitones below to 4 semitones above the audio level.
3 Vocal Cancellation
This checkbox is used to enable or disable the vocal
cancellation function. Voice cancellation levels can be
adjusted from 0 to +100. A value of +100 will eliminate most
original vocals. Default values are set to 50.
4 Reset
Reset all settings to default.
1
2
4
3
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36 ASUS Xonar D-Kara PCI 5.1 Audio Card
7. Troubleshooting and FAQs
7.1 Troubleshooting
Q1. The audio card driver could not be installed on my PC.
1. Check that the audio card is properly inserted into the PCI slot on your
motherboard.
2. Run Windows hardware Device Manager and check if a multimedia
audio device is listed. If no device is detected, scan manually for
hardware changes.
3. Reboot Windows.
4. If Windows still fails to detect the audio card, insert the audio card in a
different PCI slot.
Q2. I cannot nd the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
1. Make sure you have installed the driver.
2. Locate the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center icon in the System Tray on the
bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Double-click the icon to open the
Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
3. If the icon is not displayed on the System Tray, go to Windows Control
Panel and double click the “Xonar D-Kara Audio Center” icon to make it
visible in the system tray again.
4. After driver installation is complete, it’s recommended that you reboot
your computer to complete the setup. If the icon is still not available,
reinstall the device driver.
Q3. I cannot hear any sound from my analog speakers.
1. Check that you have connected the speakers properly and have
powered on your speakers.
2. Check that the device master volume or the software player is not set to
mute on the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center.
3. Go to the sound and audio device settings found in Windows Control
Panel to check if the playback default device is set to Xonar D-Kara
Audio Device. If it’s set to another onboard AC97 or HDA codec device,
set it to Xonar D-Kara Audio Device and restart your application.
4. Reboot Windows.
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Q4. I cannot hear any sound from the S/PDIF output.
1. Check that you have enabled S/PDIF output in the Audio Center GUI.
2. Check that you connected the correct S/PDIF output port on the card to
the decoder’s (AV receiver) S/PDIF input port.
3. You may need to select the correct input and mode of your decoder or
AV receiver.
4. If you are using 96KHz PCM output, make sure your decoder can
support 96KHz decoding. Change the PCM output to 44.1K or 48KHz to
check if your output device supports a lower value.
Q5. I cannot hear audio input (Mic, Line-in, AUX, etc.) from my speakers.
1. On the mixer recording page in the Audio Center, select the correct
input as the recording source. If you are using Windows Vista, open the
system audio control panel to check if the current recording/input device
is correct.
2. Remember to turn on the digital monitoring button for that recording
source.
Q6. I cannot hear the TV tuner audio from my speakers.
1. If you are using a TV tuner card with an analog audio output, connect
the analog audio output to the Aux-In header on the audio card.
2. Select Aux-In as the recording source and on the digital monitoring
button on the recording mixer page.
3. If you are using a TV tuner card with a digital audio output, check
that the sound is not set to mute and whether other applications can
playback sound. If you still have a problem hearing audio, refer to the
TV tuner card’s user guide.
7.2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Does the Xonar D-Kara support Windows 7/Vista?
Yes, the Xonar D-Kara driver package does support Windows 7/Vista 32/64
bit with most key features available. Xonar D-Kara also supports DS3D GX
on Windows 7/Vista, providing DirectSound 3D hardware and EAX gaming
sound effects for many existing DirectX games.
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Q2. Why can I hear and record sound from other recording devices when
Wave/Digital is selected in Record on Windows Vista?
Unlike Windows XP, Windows Vista manages multiple audio devices and
audio streams, identifying them as either Digital Input or Analog Input. This
approach allows for multiple recording devices to run simultaneously in
Windows Vista. Wave In or SPDIF-In, considered as a Digital Input, is an
independent recording device from Analog Devices such as Mic In, Line In,
or Aux In. Therefore, if you have analog inputs other than Wave In in use
and set to be monitored, you are able to hear and even record sound from
those analog devices even if Wave In / SPDIF-In is selected as the default
recording device.
Turn off the monitoring function for analog input devices if you only prefer to
hear and record Wave In / SPDIF-In sound.
Q3. Why are sound effects not available when playing 96K sound sources?
The sound effects feature in the Xonar D-Kara currently supports standard
44.1K and 48KHz sound sources. However, users are assured of high delity
playback for 96K sound sources. This is the common setup professional
audiophiles and musicians prefer.
Sound effects can still be applied by using commercial or free audio
editing software to convert the sound les to 48KHz. Please note that the
frequency meter on the Xonar D-Kara Audio Center will not take effect when
the playback source is at a 96KHz sample rate to prevent any processing
distortion.
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