Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 User Manual

User’s Guide

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative T e chnology Ltd. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is agai nst th e law to copy the software on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may make one copy of the software for backup purposes.

Copyright © 1998-2002 by Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. Version 1.1 November 2002 Sound Blaster and Blaster are registered trademarks, and the Sound Blaster Audigy logo, the Sound Blaster PCI logo, EAX ADVANCED HD, Multi-

Environment, Environment Panning, Environment Reflections, Environment Filtering, Environment Morphing, Creative Multi Speaker Surround, Inspire, and Oozic are trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. E-Mu and SoundFont are registered trademarks of E-mu Systems, Inc.. Cambridge SoundWorks, MicroWorks and PC Works are registered trademarks, and PC Works FourPointSurround is a trademark of Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.. Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby”, “Pro Logic”, “MLP Lossless”, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 1992-1998 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved. The FireWire logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.. THX is a registered trademark of THX Ltd. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

This product is covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 4,506,579; 4,699,038; 4,987,600; 5,013,105; 5,072,645; 5,111,727; 5,144,676; 5,170,369; 5,248,845; 5,298,671; 5,303,309; 5,317,104; 5,342,990;

5,430,244; 5,524,074; 5,698,803; 5,698,807; 5,748,747; 5,763,800; 5,790,837.

Important: This User Manual (On CD) has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. The following are instructions on how to

make use of this manual effectively by launching applications and help files, as well as accessing relevant web sites, where applicable, via specially prepared links.

• T o launch applications, Help files or to access relevant web sites, click the blue text, or whenever the symbol or appears on the object or text.

• For best viewing, this PDF is by default set to "Fit Width" so that all the contents on every page is visible. If you are unable to read the text cl early, press Ctrl + <+> to zoom in or Ctrl + <-> to zoom out. To view full screen, press Ctrl + <L>.

Note: To access the applications and Help files, you must first install the manual and the applications in your computer. Otherwise, you will receive

error messages. When you click a link to launch a program, a dialog box may appear to inform you that Adobe Acrobat is going to launch the application. Click the All button to run subsequent applications without the message appearing again. To access linked web sites, your computer must be connected to the Internet.

Contents

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment................................................................................ i

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?.................................................................................................. ii

Package Contents........................................................................................................................... iii

System Requirements....................................................................................................................iii

Getting More Information............................................................................................................. iv

More Help ...................................................................................................................................... iv

Te chnical Support.......................................................................................................................... iv

Document Conventions.................................................................................................................. v

1 Installing Hardware

What You Need ........................................................................................................................................1-1

Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Card.........................................................................................................1-2

Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket....................................................................................................................1-5

Installation Steps ......................................................................................................................................1-6

Step 1: Prepare your computer....................................................................................................1-6

Step 2: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ........................................................................1-7

Step 3: Install the Joystick/MIDI bracket...................................................................................1-8

Step 4: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ...........................................................1-9

Step 5: Connect to power outlet................................................................................................1-10

Connecting Related Peripherals............................................................................................................1-11

Connecting Speaker Systems ................................................................................................................1-13

Connecting External Consumer Devices..............................................................................................1-14

Positioning Your Speakers.....................................................................................................................1-16

2 Installing Software

Installing Drivers and Applications.........................................................................................................2-1

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo.................................................................................2-2

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers.....................................................2-2

Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications........................................................................2-2

Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications....................................................................... 2-3

Installing/Uninstalling selected Audio Drivers or Applications................................................2-3

Updating Windows 2000 (Service P ack 2)............................................................................................. 2-4

Updating Windows 98 SE ........................................................................................................................2-4

Installing Digital Video Update...................................................................................................2-4

3 Using Audigy 2 Software

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications...................................................................................... 3-1

Demos.......................................................................................................................................................3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo.........................................................................3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo....................................................................3-2

SoundFont Showcase...................................................................................................................3-3

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite...................................................................3-3

Creative MediaSource Go!..........................................................................................................3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher......................................................................................... 3-3

Creative MediaSource Player......................................................................................................3-4

“What U hear” multichannel reeording......................................................................................3-4

Creative MediaSource Organizer................................................................................................3-5

Creative MediaSource DVD Audio Player................................................................................ 3-6

Creative EAX Console................................................................................................................3-6

Creative Surround Mixer.............................................................................................................3-8

Creative Speaker Settings............................................................................................................3-8

Creative Speaker Calibrator.........................................................................................................3-9

Creative MiniDisc Center............................................................................................................3-9

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager............................................................................................3-9

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2...........................................................................................3-10

Creative Wave Studio.................................................................................................................3-10

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities................................................................................................3-11

Creative Diagnostics..................................................................................................................3-11

Creative Speaker Settings..........................................................................................................3-11

A General Specifications

Features.................................................................................................................................................... A-1

Connectivity............................................................................................................................................. A-3

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card .....................................................................................................A-3

B Troubleshooting and FAQs

Problems Installing Software.................................................................................................................. B-1

Problems with Sound.............................................................................................................................. B-2

Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards.................................................... B-5

Insufficient SoundFont Cache................................................................................................................ B-7

Problems with Joystick........................................................................................................................... B-7

Problems with Multiple Audio Devices................................................................................................. B-9

Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster PCI512 card........................................ B-10

Resolving I/O Conflicts........................................................................................................................ B-11

Problems with Encore DVD Player..................................................................................................... B-11

Problems with Software DVD Player.................................................................................................. B-12

Problems with DV driv er for W indo ws 98 SE/2000/Me/XP..............................................................B-12

Problems in Windows XP..................................................................................................................... B-13

Problems with Digital Audio Devices.................................................................................................. B-14

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

*A v ailable with some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), the method of audio data compression used in DVDAudio, reduces file size without removing any of the information that was contained in the original recording. The listening audience will hear the audio as it was intended in the original recording. Other packing methodologies that remove data as part of the compression are referred to as “Lossy Compression”.

Thank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy 2, the next generation Creative audio product with exciting new features and enhanced audio processing architecture.

This User Manual (on CD) guides you through the installation and usage of Sound Blaster Audigy 2. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 consists of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card and Joystick/MIDI bracket*.

Featuring 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 delivers high-definition sound of astounding quality and 24-bit/96 kHz audio recording capability from all Line Ins and SPDIF In. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 supports surround sound audio on your computer and has output capabilities for 6.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX.

As a THX audio quality and performance tests in existence. THX is renowned in the entertainment industry for its knowledge and expertise of audio-visual systems, and its certification programs are designed to ensure that products bearing the THX logo will each deliver an excellent media experience.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with its Audigy 2 processor, enables awesome EAX HD provides easy high-speed connectivity to NOMAD drives, and other IEEE 1394 compatible devices like DV camcorders, printers, scanners, and digital still cameras.

Combine Sound Blaster Audigy 2 with our rich software package for hours of endless fun. Included in your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation and Applications CD are the latest generation drivers and software for you to enjoy DVD-Audio entertainment with native MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) support, and to create EAX-enhanced MP3 songs, which you can share with your friends over the Internet.

-Certified product, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 has passed some of the most stringent and rigorous

technologies for your gaming and music listening experience. The SB1394TM/FireWire® port

portable digital audio players, external CD-RW

ADVANCED

Introduction i

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?

EAX ADVANCED HD brings a new level of performance, power, and flexibility to PC audio. Taking advantage of the enhanced processing capabilities of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 processor, EAX ADVANCED HD delivers a host of new features that achieve high definition audio for gaming and music enhancement.

The all-new EAX AD VANCED HD Game Audio Library takes in-game audio and acoustic simulation to a whole new level. These innov ative technologies bring tremendous realism and total audio immersion for PC gaming:

❑ New Multi-Environment ❑ Environment P anning

technology renders up to 4 simultaneous audio environments in real time.

makes it easy for gamers to track with three-dimensional precision, the location and movement of sounds that usually represent enemies or team mates. This gives Sound Blaster Audigy 2 gamers a better advantage as they are more "attuned" to the game scenario.

❑ Environment Reflections ❑ Environment Filtering

offers localization of early reflections and echoes.

accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed

environments.

❑ Environment Morphing

allows for seamless transition from one environment to the next.

EAX ADVANCED HD Music Technologies also assures sonic superiority.

❑ Audio Clean-Up enables the removal of unwanted noise in a digital audio file. ❑ Time Scaling speeds up and slows down music with no distortion. ❑ EAX ADVANCED HD music effects, developed especially for music listening, further enhance

playback of songs.

EAX ADVANCED HD offers dramatically increased 3D audio performance and functionality. Delivering superior audio fidelity and sophisticated reverb effects, this unsurpass ed digital entertainment e xperience is available only from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 family of products.

Introduction ii

Package Contents The following items are included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 package:

❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ❑ Joystick/MIDI bracket* ❑ Digital CD audio cable*

*A vailable with some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation and Applications CD ❑ Quick Start Leaflet* ❑ User Manual (on CD)* ❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo CD ❑ Creative DVD-Audio Samplter Disc ❑ Warranty (printed or on CD)* ❑ Technical Support (printed or on CD)*

System Requirements

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

❑ Genuine Intel® Pentium® II 350 MHz, AMD® K6 450 MHz or faster processor ❑ Intel, AMD or 100%-Intel compatible motherboard chipset ❑ Windows

2 (SP2) or Wind ows XP

❑ 64 MB RAM for Windows 98 SE and Windows Me

128 MB RAM for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP

❑ 600 MB of free hard disk space ❑ Available PCI 2.1 compliant slot for the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ❑ Available adjacent slot for the Joystick/MIDI bracket* ❑ Headphones or amplified speakers (available separately) ❑ CD-ROM drive installed

98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000 Service Pack

Introduction iii

SB1394/FireWire applications, games or DVD

viewing

Minimum 256 MB RAM recommended for Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP SP1 users for games and DV capture and editing.

❑ Genuine Intel Pentium II 350 MHz or AMD 450 MHz processor for SB1394/FireWire applications or

games

❑ SB1394/FireWire: Minimum 128 MB RAM for digital video (D V) capture and editing recommended,

Ultra DMA hard disk with 1 GB workspace (ATA-100, 7,200 rpm type and 6 GB recommended) for DV applications

❑ Games: At least 128 MB RAM recommended, 3D graphics accelerator with at least 8 MB of texture

RAM, available 300–500 MB of free hard disk space

❑ DVD: At least second generation DVD-ROM drive with these recommended soft-DVD players:

InterVideo’s WinDVD 2000 or CyberLink’s PowerDVD 3.0 or later

❑ DVD-Audio: Requires genuine Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon

Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP SP1, and a second generation DVD-ROM drive 6X or higher.

1 GHz or faster, 256 MB for

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment

Getting More Information

Internet Radio: Requires at least a 56 kbps modem and an active Internet connection to run the application.

Other applications may have higher system requirements or may require a microphone. Refer to the application’s online Help documentation for details.

Refer to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo and the various online Help files for detailed information on Creative applications. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo giv es you an interactive introduction to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

Technical Support Visit www.soundblaster.com/support/faq for general help.

Introduction iv

Document

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual:

Conventions

The notepad icon indicates information that is of particular importance and should be considered before continuing.

The alarm clock designates a caution or warning that can help you avoid situations involving risk.

The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to directions may result in bodily harm or life-threatening situations.

Introduction v

Installing Hardware

This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 hardware.

Installing Hardware

What You Need

In addition, you will also need an available PCI slot and another adjacent available slot on your computer.

Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these:

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Digital CD audio cable*

Joystick/MIDI bracket*

Phillips-head screwdriver (not included)

*Available on some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-1

Your Sound

Blaster Audigy 2 Card

Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of devices:

In Analog mode, the Line Out, Rear Out and Rear Center Out

acks are used simultaneously for

6.1 channel speaker systems.

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

Figure 1-1: Jacks, connectors and ports on the

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-2

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

1 SB1394/FireWire port (SB1394/FireWire)

Connects to an IEEE 1394 compatible external device (such as a digital video camcorder, digital still camera, printer or scanner).

2 Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3)

Connects to Front Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

3 Line Out 2 jack (LIN_OUT2)

Connects to Rear Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

4 Line Out 1 jack (LIN_OUT1)

Connects to Front Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output. Also supports headphones.

5 Microphone In jack (MIC_IN)

Connects to an external microphone for voice input.

6 Line In jack (LIN_IN)

Connects to an external device (such as a cassette, DAT or MiniDisc player).

7 Digital Out jack

6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF output for connection to external digital devices or digital speaker systems.

Installing Hardware 1-3

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

*A vailable with some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Number Description

8 Telephone Answering Device connector (TAD)

Provides a monaural connection from a standard voice modem, and transmits microphone signals to the modem.

9 CD Audio connector (CD_IN)

Connects to the Analog Audio output on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using a CD audio cable.

10 AUX In connector (AUX_IN)

Connects to internal audio sources such as TV T u ner, MPEG, or other similar cards.

11 Internal SB1394/FireWire port*

Connects to the SB1394/FireWire connector on the Audigy 2 Drive.

12 CD SPDIF connector (CD_SPDIF)

Connects to the SPDIF (Digital Audio) output (where available) on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using the Digital CD audio cable provided.

13 Joystick/MIDI connector (JOYSTICK)*

Connects to the Joystick/MIDI cable.

14 Audio Extension connector (AD_EXT)

Connects to the internal Audigy 2 Drive (upgrade option).

Installing Hardware 1-4

Your Joystick/ MIDI Bracket

*A vailable with some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

The Joystick/MIDI bracket* is used to attach a joystick or MIDI device:

Joystick/MIDI connector

Connects to a joystic k or a MIDI device.

Rear view of connector bracket

Figure 1-2: Connector on the Joystick/MIDI bracket.

Installing Hardware 1-5

Installation Steps

Step 1: Prepare your computer

Turn off the main power supply and disconnect your computer’s power cord. Systems using an ATX power supply unit with soft power off may still be powering the PCI slot. This can damage your audio card when it is inserted into the slot.

Remove any e xisting audio card or disable the onboard audio chipset. For more information, see “Problems with Multiple Audio Devices” on page B-9.

1. Turn off your computer and all peripheral devices.

2. Touch a metal plate on your computer to ground yourself and to discharge any static electricity, and then unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

3. Remove the computer cover.

4. Remove the metal brackets from two adjacent unused PCI slots as shown in Figure 1-3. Put the screws aside for use later.

A: metal bracket B: PCI slot C: ISA slot (may not

be present on your computer)

Figure 1-3: Removing metal plates

Installing Hardware 1-6

Step 2: Install the Sound Blaster

1. Align the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with the PCI slot and press the card gently but firmly into the slot as shown in Figure 1-4.

Audigy 2 card

Do not force the audio card into the slot. Make sure that the gold finger PCI connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card is aligned with the PCI bus connector on the motherboard before you insert the card into the PCI expansion slot. If it does not fit properly, gently remove it and try again

Figure 1-4: Securing the audio card to the expansion slot.

2. Secure the card with one of the screws you had placed aside earlier.

Installing Hardware 1-7

Step 3: Install the Joystick/MIDI

bracket

You may also connect all the cables to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card first before securing the card and Joystick/ MIDI bracket in place.

1. If you are installing a joystick or MIDI device (optional), secure the Joystick/MIDI bracket* to the slot next to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with the second screw.

Joystick/MIDI bracket

*A vailable with some models of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Do not force any cable into a connector. This can cause permanent damage to your hardware.

Joystick/MIDI cable

Figure 1-5: Securing the audio card to the expansion slot.

2. Connect the Joystick/MIDI cable* to the Joystick/MIDI connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card as shown in Figure 1-5.

Installing Hardware 1-8

+ 46 hidden pages

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 User Manual