Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum User Manual

How to use this manual

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum

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 Technology 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 against the 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 only.

The Software License Agreement is found in a separate folder on this installation CD. The copyright and disclaimer, including trademark issues are also found in the same folder.

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.

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Contents

Contents

Introduction
High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment.............................	ix
What is EAX ADVANCED HD? ................................................	x
Package Contents ...........................................................	xi
System Requirements.....................................................	xii
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card........................................	xii
SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing .................	xii
Internet Multimedia and Entertainment ........................	xiii
Getting More Information....................................................	xiii
More Help .........................................................................	xiii
Technical Support ..............................................................	xiii
Document Conventions.......................................................	xiii

1	Installing Hardware
	What You Need.........................................................................	1-1
	Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Card...............................................	1-2
	Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket ........................................................	1-5
	Your Audigy 2 Drive ..................................................................	1-6
	Connecting Headphones ....................................................	1-8
	Connecting Microphones....................................................	1-9
	Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain...................	1-10
	Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs .............................	1-10
	Using Creative Surround Mixer .........................................	1-11
	Using a Remote Control with Your Drive.....................................	1-11
	Remote Control Functions ........................................................	1-12
	Installation Steps ....................................................................	1-14
	Step 1: Prepare your computer ........................................	1-14
	Step 2: Connect the Audigy 2 Drive cables ........................	1-16
	Step 3: Install the Audigy 2 Drive..................................	1-17
	Step 4: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card...............	1-18

iii

	Step 5: Install the Joystick/MIDI bracket ...........................	1-19
	Step 6: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.......	1-20
	Step 7: Connect to power outlet.......................................	1-22
	Connecting Related Peripherals.................................................	1-23
	Connecting Speaker Systems ...................................................	1-26
	Connecting External Consumer Devices .....................................	1-27
	Positioning Your Speakers ........................................................	1-29
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.. 2-4
	Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2) ....................................	2-5
	Updating Windows 98 SE ...........................................................	2-5
	Installing Digital Video Update............................................	2-5
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....................................	3-4
	Creative MediaSource Player..........................................	3-4
	Creative MediaSource Organizer.....................................	3-5
	Finding and organizing songs .....................................	3-5
	Keep your music database up to date .........................	3-5

iv

Transferring songs ....................................................	3-5
Automatically playing multimedia content....................	3-5
Extracting and converting songs.................................	3-6
Storing music on recordable CD .................................	3-6
Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player..............................	3-6
Creative EAX Console ........................................................	3-7
Audio Effects: Environmental Sound Processing ...........	3-7
CMSS 3D: Simulating Surround Sound........................	3-8
Audio Clean-up: Removing noise and distortion............	3-8
Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playback ...............	3-8
Creative Surround Mixer ...............................................	3-9
Creative Speaker Settings .............................................	3-9
Creative Speaker Calibrator...........................................	3-9
Creative MiniDisc Center ...............................................	3-9
Creative SoundFont Bank Manager ................................	3-10
Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2.................................	3-10
Creative Wave Studio ..................................................	3-11
Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities......................................	3-11
Creative Diagnostics ....................................................	3-11
Creative Speaker Settings ............................................	3-12

v

Appendixes

A	General Specifications
	Features ..................................................................................	A-1
	PCI Bus Mastering ....................................................	A-1
	Audigy Processor......................................................	A-1
	High Quality Audio Path.............................................	A-1
	Professional Digital Audio Processing...........................	A-2
	Flexible Mixer Control................................................	A-2
	Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoding....................................	A-2
	Creative Multi Speaker SurroundTM (CMSSTM) ............	A-3
	SB1394TM Compatibility............................................	A-3
	Connectivity .............................................................................	A-3
	Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ..............................................	A-3
	Audio Inputs ............................................................	A-3
	Audio Outputs ..........................................................	A-3
	SB1394 Interfaces....................................................	A-4
	Interfaces................................................................	A-4
	Audigy 2 Drive.............................................................	A-5
	Audio/Video Inputs and Outputs On Front Panel...........	A-5
	Interfaces................................................................	A-5

B	Troubleshooting and FAQs
	Problems Installing Software ......................................................	B-1
	Problems with Sound.................................................................	B-2
	Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards....	B-6
	Insufficient SoundFont Cache .....................................................	B-7
	Problems with Joystick...............................................................	B-8
	Problems with Multiple Audio Devices ..........................................	B-9
	Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster
	PCI512 card..........................................................................	B-10

vi

Resolving I/O Conflicts.............................................................	B-11
Problems with Encore DVD Player .............................................	B-12
Problems with Software DVD Player ..........................................	B-12
Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/2000/Me/XP ............	B-13
Problems in Windows XP..........................................................	B-14
Problems with Digital Audio Devices ..........................................	B-15

vii

Introduction

Introduction

High Definition

Digital Audio

Entertainment

MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), the method of audio data compression used in DVD-Audio, 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 Platinum, 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 Platinum. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum consists of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Joystick/MIDI bracket, the Audigy 2 Drive and an infrared (IR) remote control.

Featuring 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum 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 Platinum supports surround sound audio on your computer and has output capabilities for 6.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with its Audigy 2 processor, enables awesome EAX® ADVANCED HDTM technologies for your gaming and music listening experience. The SB1394 port provides easy high-speed connectivity to NOMAD® portable digital audio players, external CD-RW drives, and other IEEE 1394 compatible devices like DV camcorders, printers, scanners, and digital still cameras.

Combine Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum with our rich software package for hours of endless fun. Included in your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation 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.

Introduction ix

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 SoundBlaster 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 ADVANCED HD Game Audio Library takes in-game audio and acoustic simulation to a whole new level. These innovative technologies bring tremendous realism and total audio immersion for PC gaming:

New Multi-EnvironmentTM technology renders multiple environment audio effects in real time.

Environment PanningTM makes it easy for gamers to track with threedimensional 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 ReflectionsTM offers localization of early reflections and echoes.

Environment FilteringTM accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed environments.

Environment MorphingTM allows for seamless transition from one environment to the next.

EAX ADVANCED HD Music Technologies also assures sonic superiority.

Audio Clean-Up removes 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 unsurpassed digital entertainment experience is available only from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 family of products.

Introduction x

Package Contents

The items listed here may be different in certain countries.

Use the AD_EXT cable with the Audigy 2 Drive ONLY. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with the Audigy 2 Drive as that may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to the Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, which will void the warranty for this product. Your computer may potentially be damaged too.

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

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Audigy 2 Drive and IR remote control

Joystick/MIDI bracket

Internal SB1394 cable

AD_EXT cable

Digital CD audio cable

Power splitter cable

2 Mini-DIN-to-standard-DIN adapters

3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter

4 screws + shunt (for microphone selection)

2 AAA batteries for the IR remote control

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD

Quick Start Guide

User manual (on CD)

Demos and game CDs

Warranty (printed or on CD)

Technical Support (printed or on CD)

Introduction xi

System

Requirements

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing

Minimum 256 MB RAM recommended for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP users for games and DV capture and editing.

Genuine Intel® Pentium® II 350 MHz, AMD® K6 450 MHz or faster processor

Intel, AMD or 100%-Intel compatible motherboard chipset

Windows® 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows 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 (optional)

Available 5 1/4" PC drive bay

Headphones or amplified speakers (available separately)

CD-ROM drive installed

Genuine Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or AMD 700 MHz processor for SB1394 applications or games

SB1394: Minimum 128 MB RAM for digital video (DV) 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, 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 softDVD players: InterVideo’s WinDVD 2000 or CyberLink’s PowerDVD 3.0 or later

DVD-Audio: Requires genuine Intel Pentium III 800 MHz, Windows 2000 SP2 or Windows XP SP1, and a second generation DVD-ROM drive 6X or higher

Introduction xii

Internet Multimedia and

Entertainment

Getting More

Information

More Help

Technical Support

Document

Conventions

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 gives you an interactive introduction to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

View the contents of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD for additional libraries and other software. Visit the www.soundblaster.com site for the latest Sound Blaster news and products. The site also includes information on making purchases, technical help, and the latest driver updates.

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

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual:

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 xiii

Installing Hardware

1This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum hardware.

Installing Hardware

What You Need	Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these:

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

Use the AD_EXT cable with the Audigy 2 Drive ONLY. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with the Audigy 2 Drive as that may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to the Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, which will void the warranty for this product. Your computer may potentially be damaged too.

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Drive

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Digital CD audio cable

Internal SB1394 cable

	Phillips-head screwdriver
Joystick/MIDI	(not included)
bracket	Remote
	Control

Screws Shunt

AD_EXT cable

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 jacks are used simultaneously for 6.1 channel speaker systems.

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

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

9				10			12
8							11

13

14

Figure 1-1: Jacks, connectors and ports on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-2

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

	Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.
Number		Description
1		SB1394 port (SB1394)
		Connects to an IEEE1394 compatible external device (such as a
		digital video camcorder, digital still camera, printer or scanner).
2		Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3)
		Connects to 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.

	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 Tuner, MPEG, or
		other similar cards.
11		Internal SB1394 port
		Connects to the SB1394 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.

Installing Hardware 1-4

Your Joystick/

MIDI Bracket

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

	Joystick/MIDI
	connector			Rear view of
	Connects to a joystick
				connector bracket
	or a MIDI device.

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

Installing Hardware 1-5

Your Audigy 2

Drive

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

•If your headphones or microphone uses a 1/8" (3.5 mm) plug, use a 1/8" stereo mini plug to 1/4" stereo phono plug adapter (included).

•Set the gain of the Mic In 2 jack to the minimum before connecting or turning on a microphone, especially if you are monitoring the microphone input with headphones.

The Audigy 2 Drive provides additional connectivity for a number of other devices. The front panel of your Audigy 2 Drive has these jacks, connectors and controls:

						6
							7
	5

8

4

9

3

2

1

10

11

Figure 1-3: Jacks, connectors and controls on the Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-6

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

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Number	Description
1	¼” Line In 2/Mic In 2 jack
	Connects to a microphone or audio devices such as electric guitars
	and DAT or MiniDisc players.
2	Headphone Volume Control
	Controls the headphones output volume. See “Adjusting
	Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.
3	¼” Headphone jack
	Connects to a pair of headphones using a 1/4" stereo plug or
	adapter. Your speaker output is muted when you connect the
	headphones to the Audigy 2 Drive.
4	Coaxial SPDIF In/Out jacks
	Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc
	recorders, via RCA input/output.
5	Optical SPDIF In/Out connectors
	Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc
	recorders, via optical input/output.

6Auxiliary 2 Line In jacks

Connects to consumer equipment such as VCR, TV and CD players, via RCA Auxiliary audio outputs.

Installing Hardware 1-7

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

Connecting

Headphones

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Number	Description
7	Infrared Receiver
	Receptor for the Infrared commands from your IR remote control.
8	MIDI In/Out connectors
	Connects to MIDI devices using the mini DIN-to-Standard DIN
	adapters provided.
9	SB1394 connector
	Connects to IEEE 1394 compatible devices.
10	Line In 2/Mic In 2 selector
	(Microphone Gain Control)
	To switch to Line In 2, turn the knob counter clockwise over the
	Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark until you hear a “click”. To
	switch back to Mic In 2, turn the knob clockwise over the
	separator mark until you hear a “click”. To increase microphone
	gain, continue to turn clockwise. See “Adjusting Headphones
	Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.
11	Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark

There are two types of headphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

Home or professional headphones fitted with a 1/4" stereo phono plugs.

Personal stereo headphones fitted with a 1/8" 3.5 mm stereo miniplug, such as those used with personal audio players, when used with the included 1/8" 3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter.

Installing Hardware 1-8

Connecting

Microphones

•The Jumper JP1 may not be available on certain models of Audigy 2 Drive.

•The shunt for Jumper JP1 can be found together with the packet of screws provided.

There are two types of microphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

Dynamic microphone, which is usually fitted with a ¼" stereo plug, such as those used in vocal performances.

Condenser microphone, such as those sold for use with computers, are equipped with a 3.5 mm minijack.

			Shunt
To use a dynamic		To use a condenser
microphone, place the		microphone,
shunt onto Jumper JP1.		remove the shunt
		from Jumper JP1
		(default setting).
		Jumper JP1

Figure 1-4: Microphone jumper settings.

By default, your Audigy 2 Drive is set for use with a condenser microphone. To use a dynamic microphone, you must place the shunt (jumper) on to Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive. See Figure 1-9 on page 1-16 for the location of Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-9

Adjusting

Headphones

Volume and

Microphone

Gain

You can adjust the headphones volume and microphone gain in two ways.

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs

On the front panel of the Audigy 2 Drive, turn the respective control knob:

Counterclockwise to decrease the headphones volume or microphone gain.

Clockwise to increase the headphones volume or microphone gain.

Installing Hardware 1-10

Using Creative

Surround Mixer

To install Surround Mixer and other applications, see “Installing Drivers and Applications” on page 2-1.

•For best effects, set the headphones volume and microphone gain levels to 75% in Creative Surround Mixer, and then use the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs to make further adjustments.

•If you set the headphones volume or microphone gain levels to 0%, or mute them in Creative Surround Mixer, you hear no sound if the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs are set to the maximum.

To adjust headphones volume:

1.Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster Audigy 2 -> Surround Mixer.

2.On the Master Control panel of Creative Surround Mixer, make sure that there is no red “X” on the Speaker button under the Volume slider. Otherwise, click the Speaker button. This will unmute the headphones output.

3.Drag the Volume slider up or down to adjust the headphones volume.

To adjust microphone gain:

1.Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster Audigy 2 -> Surround Mixer.

2.On the Source panel of Creative Surround Mixer, click an audio input source button with a down arrow, and then select Microphone.

3.Make sure the Speaker button below the Microphone slider has no red “X” on it. Otherwise, click the Speaker button. This will unmute the audio input.

4.Drag the slider to adjust the microphone gain.

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive

The Audigy 2 Drive has an infrared receiver for the remote control. This remote control lets you operate your computer from the comfort of your sofa or bed up to a distance of 4 meters (13 feet).

Installing Hardware 1-11