Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SB1394, Sound Blaster Audigy non-SB1394 User Manual

How to use this manual

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy

Creative Audio Software

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:

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as accessing relevant web sites, where applicable, via specially prepared links.

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Note:

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This PDF file has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. The following

To access the applications and Help files, you must first install the manual and the applications in your computer.

Contents

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment....................................... viii

What is EAX ADVANCED HD? ............................................................ ix

Package Contents ............................................................................. x

System Requirements ...................................................................... x

Sound Blaster Audigy card......................................................... x

SB1394 applications, games and DVD viewing ............................. x

Getting More Information................................................................. xi

More Help ...................................................................................... xi

Technical Support ........................................................................... xi

Document Conventions.....................................................................xii

1 Installing Hardware

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

Your Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) Card................................................ 1-2

Your Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) Card ......................................... 1-3

Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket: For Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394)........ 1-4

Installation Steps ...................................................................................1-5

Step 1: Prepare your computer ...................................................... 1-5

Step 2: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy card .................................. 1-6

Step 3: Connect to audio cable (Optional step for Analog or Digital CD audio

cable connection) ......................................................................... 1-7

Step 4: Connect to power supply ............................................................. 1-8

Connecting Related Peripherals................................................................ 1-9

Connecting Speaker Systems ................................................................ 1-11

Connecting External Consumer Devices .................................................. 1-13

Positioning Your Speakers ..................................................................... 1-15

.......................................................................................................... 1-15

2 Installing Software

ii

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

Uninstalling Applications ........................................................................2-1

Reinstalling Applications.......................................................................... 2-2

Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2) ................................................. 2-3

3 Sound Blaster Audigy Applications

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

Creative Taskbar.................................................................................... 3-2

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Online Quick Start ...................................... 3-2

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Experience ................................................ 3-2

EAX ADVANCED HD Gold Mine Experience ................................................3-3

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

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

Creative AudioHQ................................................................................... 3-4

SoundFont Control ........................................................................ 3-4

Device Controls ............................................................................ 3-4

Creative Keyboard ........................................................................ 3-5

MIDI Input............................................................................ 3-5

EAX Control.................................................................................. 3-5

Creative WaveStudio .............................................................................. 3-5

Creative PlayCenter................................................................................ 3-6

Creative Recorder .................................................................................. 3-6

Creative MiniDisc Center ......................................................................... 3-6

Creative Restore Defaults........................................................................ 3-7

4 Using Applications

Multimedia Playback............................................................................... 4-1

Watching DVDs ............................................................................ 4-1

Playing MP3 or WMA files............................................................... 4-2

Playing back Wave and CD Audio files ............................................. 4-2

Playing MIDI files.......................................................................... 4-2

iii

Creating non- General-MIDI- compliant files .................................... 4-2

Digital Entertainment.............................................................................. 4-2

Watching surround movies............................................................. 4-2

Compiling personal albums ............................................................ 4-3

Content Creation.................................................................................... 4-3

Applying voice effects.................................................................... 4-3

Recording sound and effects .......................................................... 4-3

Capturing and editing videos .......................................................... 4-3

Advanced Content Creation ..................................................................... 4-3

Recording multi-tracks with ASIO ................................................... 4-3

Creating music ............................................................................. 4-4

Recording and transcribing music ................................................... 4-4

Recording and editing musical instruments ...................................... 4-4

Recording digital audio .................................................................. 4-4

Creating multiple effects ................................................................ 4-4

Creating and playing back SoundFonts ............................................ 4-4

Internet Entertainment ...........................................................................4-5

Encoding CD songs to MP3 format .................................................. 4-5

Downloading and playing MP3 songs ............................................... 4-5

Playing MP3 songs with EAX ADVANCED HD..................................... 4-5

Gaming Reference.................................................................................. 4-5

Enjoying EAX ADVANCED HD support.............................................. 4-5

Enjoying DirectSound3D support .................................................... 4-6

Enjoying A3D 1.0 support .............................................................. 4-6

Customizing environments for non-3D games .................................. 4-6

Appendixes

A General Specifications

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

PCI Bus Mastering .................................................................A-1

iv

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

Compatibility: For Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394TM) only .........A-3

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

Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card .............................................. A-3

Audio Inputs .........................................................................A-3

Audio Outputs .......................................................................A-3

SB1394 Interfaces ................................................................. A-4

Interfaces ............................................................................. A-4

Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) card ........................................ A-4

Audio Inputs .........................................................................A-4

Audio Outputs .............................................................................. A-5

Interfaces ............................................................................. A-5

B Troubleshooting

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

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

For Windows 98 SE ....................................................................... B-4

For Windows Me ........................................................................... B-4

For Windows 2000 and Windows XP................................................ B-5

Insufficient SoundFont Cache ..................................................................B-6

Problems With Joystick ...........................................................................B-6

Problems with Multiple Audio Devices .......................................................B-7

Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster PCI512 card ....... B-8

Resolving I/O Conflicts............................................................................B-9

Problems in Windows NT 4.0 ................................................................. B-10

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

v

Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/2000/Me .............................. B-11

Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards............... B-12

Problems in Windows XP ....................................................................... B-14

Index

vi

Introduction

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

Thank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy. It is the most complete high­definition digital audio entertainment solution that you will ever come across.

Two models are covered in this manual: Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394), with
SB1394 connectivity, and Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394), without SB1394
support. SB1394 applications are only applicable for the Sound Blaster Audigy
(SB1394) model.

With the onboard 24-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog
Converter (DAC), Sound Blaster Audigy delivers high-definition sound of astounding
quality with 96 kHz SPDIF support. The Sound Blaster Audigy card, with its Audigy
processor, is four times as powerful as its nearest competitor. This enables awesome

ADVANCED HDTM technologies for your games and music listening experience.

EAX

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 with a rich software bundle and you get endless
hours of fun. Included in your Sound Blaster Audigy Installation CD are exciting
applications that allow you to create EAX-enhanced MP3 songs, and instant
interactive Oozic music videos, which you can share with your friends over the
Internet.

Introduction vii

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?

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

The all-new EAX ADVANCED HD Game Audio Library takes in-game audio acoustics
to a whole new level. New Multi-Environment
simultaneous audio environments in real time. Environment Panning
spatializing and localizing environments in 3D possible. Environment Reflections
offers localization of early reflections and echoes. Environment Filtering
accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed
environments. Finally, Environment Morphing

TM

technology renders up to 4

TM

allows for seamless transition from

TM

makes

TM

TM

one environment to the next. These innovative technologies bring tremendous
realism and immersiveness to gaming.

Sonic superiority is also assured with EAX ADVANCED HD Music Technologies. Audio
Clean-Up enables the removal of unwanted noise in a digital audio file. DREAM

TM

creates an enhanced, "disco-like" surround sound for any stereo music. Time Scaling
speeds up and slows down music with no distortion. Music playback is further
enhanced with the specially developed EAX ADVANCED HD music effects.

EAX ADVANCED HD offers dramatically increased 3D audio performance and
functionality, delivering superior audio fidelity and sophisticated reverb effects for
an unsurpassed digital entertainment experience that is only available from the
Sound Blaster Audigy family of products.

Introduction viii

Package Contents

System Requirements

The following items are included in your package:

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy card

❑

Joystick/MIDI bracket for Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy Installation CD

Sound Blaster Audigy
card

SB1394 applications, games and DVD viewing

❑

Genuine Intel

❑

Intel, AMD or 100%-Intel compatible motherboard chipset

❑

Windows
NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows XP

❑

64 MB RAM for Windows 98 SE/Me
128 MB RAM for Windows 2000/XP

❑

600 MB of free hard disk space

❑

Available PCI 2.1 compliant slot for the Sound Blaster Audigy card

❑

Available adjacent slot for the Joystick/MIDI bracket (optional)

❑

Headphones or amplified speakers (available separately)

❑

CD-ROM drive installed

❑

Genuine Intel Pentium II 350 MHz, MMX or AMD 450 MHz processor/3Dnow!

❑

Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 or Windows XP

❑

3D graphics accelerator with at least 8 MB of texture RAM for games

❑

128 MB RAM recommended for digital video (DV) capture and editing

❑

Ultra DMA type hard disk with 1 GB workspace (ATA-100, 7,200 rpm type and 6
GB recommended) for DV applications (300–500 MB of free hard disk space for
games)

®

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

®

98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows

Introduction ix

❑

Second generation or later DVD-ROM drive with these recommended soft-DVD

players: InterVideo’s Win DVD 2000 or CyberLink’s PowerDVD 3.0 or later

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

Getting More Information

More Help

Technical Support

Refer to the Sound Blaster Audigy Online Quick Start and the various online Help
files for detailed information on Creative applications. The Sound Blaster Audigy

Experience, an online demo, gives you an interactive introduction to Sound Blaster

Audigy and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

View the contents of the Sound Blaster Audigy Installation CD for additional
demonstrations, 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 CreativeWare updates.

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

Introduction x

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 xi

1

Installing Hardware

This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy
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:

Audio Extension
(Digital I/O)
Connector *

OR

Sound Blaster Audigy
(SB1394) card

Joystick/MIDI
bracket**

Sound Blaster Audigy
(non-SB1394) card

Phillips-head screwdriver
(not included)

* Available only on some models for
connection to the Sound Blaster
Audigy Drive or Optical-Digital I/O
card.
**Bundled with some models of Sound
Blaster Audigy card.

Installing Hardware 1-1

Your Sound

“

Blaster Audigy
(SB1394) Card

Refer to the User Guide,

Hardware Information”, for

connector pin assignments.

Your Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card has these connectors that allow you to
attach other devices:

CD Audio connector (CD_IN)

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

Telephone Answering Device connector
(TAD)

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

For Creative’s proprietary use only

Analog/Digital Out connector

6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF
output for connection to external digital
devices or digital speaker systems.
Also supports Center and Subwoofer
analog channels for connection to 5.1
analog speaker systems.

Line In connector (LIN_IN)

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

Microphone In connector (MIC_IN)

Connects to an external microphone for
voice input.

Line Out connector (LIN_OUT1)

Connects to powered speakers or an external
amplifier for audio output. Also supports
headphones.
Can be used simultaneously with the Rear
Out connecter for 4.1 channel speaker
systems.

Rear Out connector (LIN_OUT2)

Connects to powered speakers or an external
amplifier for audio output.
Can be used simultaneously with the Line Out
connecter for 4.1 channel speaker systems.

SB1394 connector (SB1394)

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

Figure 1-1: Connectors and ports on the Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card.

AUX connector (AUX_IN)

Connects to internal audio sources such
as TV Tuner, MPEG, or other similar
cards.

Internal SB1394 connector
(Optional)

Connects to J5 on the Audigy Drive.

For Creative’s proprietary use only

CD SPDIF connector
(CD_SPDIF)

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

Joystick/MIDI
connector
(Optional)

Connects to the
Joystick/MIDI
bracket

Installing Hardware 1-2

Your Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) Card

Your Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) card has these connectors that allow you
to attach other devices:

CD Audio connector (CD_IN)

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

Telephone Answering
Device connector (TAD)

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

Analog/Digital Out connector

6-channel or compressed AC-3
SPDIF output for connection to
external digital devices or digital
speaker systems.
Also supports Center and
Subwoofer analog channels for
connection to 5.1 analog speaker
systems.

Line In connector (LIN_IN)

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

Microphone In connector
(MIC_IN)

Connects to an external microphone
for voice input.

Line Out connector (LIN_OUT1)

Connects to powered speakers or an
external amplifier for audio output.
Also supports headphones.

Rear Out connector (LIN_OUT2)

Connects to powered speakers or an
external amplifier for audio output.

Joystick/MIDI connector

Connects to a joystick or a MIDI device.
You can buy an optional MIDI kit that
allows you to plug in the joystick and
MIDI device simultaneously.

AUX connector (AUX_IN)

Connects to internal audio sources
such as TV Tuner, MPEG, or other
similar cards.

CD SPDIF connector
(CD_SPDIF)

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

Figure 1-2: Connectors and ports on the Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) card.

Installing Hardware 1-3

Your Joystick/ MIDI Bracket: For Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394)

This bracket is bundled with
some models of Sound Blaster
Audigy card.

Your Joystick/MIDI bracket has this connector that can be attached to other
devices:

Joystick/MIDI connector

Connects to a joystick or a MIDI device. You
can buy an optional MIDI kit that allows you
to plug in a joystick and MIDI device
simultaneously.

Rear view of connector bracket

Figure 1-3: Connector on the Joystick/MIDI bracket.

Installing Hardware 1-4

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 existing audio
card or disable the onboard
audio chipset. For more
information, see “Problems
with Multiple Audio Devices”
on page B-7.

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 appropriate number of metal brackets from unused PCI slots as
shown in Figure 1-4. Put the screws aside for use later.

Remove two adjacent

metal
brackets

Sound Blaster
Audigy (SB1394)

ISA slots

Remove two adjacent
metal brackets

metal brackets

Figure 1-4: Removing metal bracket

metal
bracket

PCI slots

ISA slots

Remove a
metal bracket

PCI slots

Sound Blaster
Audigy (non­SB1394)

Installing Hardware 1-5

Step 2: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy card

Do not force the audio card
into the slot. Make sure that
the gold finger PCI connector
on the Sound Blaster Audigy
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

.

1. Align the Sound Blaster Audigy card with the PCI slot and press the card gently
but firmly into the slot as shown in Figure 1-5.

Fasten the
card and
bracket with
screws.

Joystick/MIDI
bracket

Sound Blaster
Audigy (SB1394)

Unused
brackets

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

Fasten the
card with a
screw.

Unused
brackets

Sound Blaster
Audigy (non­SB1394)

2. Secure the card with the screw you had placed aside earlier.

3. For Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card users, secure the Joystick/MIDI bracket
to the slot next to the Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card with the second
screw.
Connect the Joystick/MIDI cable to the Joystick/MIDI connector on the Sound
Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card as shown in Figure 1-5.

Installing Hardware 1-6

Step 3: Connect to audio cable (Optional step for Analog or Digital CD audio cable connection)

For analog CD audio output:

connect the Analog CD audio cable from the Analog Audio connector on your CD­ROM/DVD-ROM drive to the CD_IN connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy card
as shown in Figure 1-6.

For digital CD audio output:

connect the Digital CD audio cable from the Digital Audio connector on your CD­ROM/DVD-ROM drive to the CD_SPDIF connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy
card as shown in Figure 1-6.

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive

• The MPC-to-MPC (4-pin)
Analog CD audio cable
and the MPC-to-MPC (2­pin) Digital CD audio
cable are not included
with your audio card.

• If the Sound Blaster
Audigy card is connected
to both the CD SPDIF and
CD Audio connectors on a
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, do not enable the
CD Audio and CD Digital
options at the same time
in Surround Mixer.

OR

Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394)

Figure 1-6: Connecting the drives.

OR

Installing Hardware 1-7

Step 4: Connect to power supply

1. Replace the computer cover.

2. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet, and turn on the computer.

To connect your Sound Blaster Audigy card to other devices, see “Connecting
Related Peripherals” on page 1-9.

To install drivers and software, refer to “Installing Drivers and Applications” on
page 2-1.

Installing Hardware 1-8

Connecting Related Peripherals

Analog/Digital Out connector
Analog Mode (default): Connects to Center and

Subwoofer channels.
Digital Mode: Connects to digital speakers* (via
the miniplug-to-DIN cable, which is included with
your speakers), MiniDisc or DAT

For instructions on how to switch
between digital and analog modes, refer
to topic “Digital Output Only” of the
Creative Surround Mixer online Help.

Cassette and CD player,
Synthesizer, etc.

Sound Blaster Audigy will give you endless hours of listening pleasure. Figure 1-7
shows you how to connect related peripherals to your Sound Blaster Audigy
(SB1394) and Figure 1-8 shows you how to connect related peripherals to your
Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) to optimize your enjoyment.

Line-out

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive

MPC-to-MPC (4-pin)
Analog CD audio cable

Line In
Line Out
Mic In
Rear Out
SB1394

port

MPC-to-MPC (2-pin)
Digital CD audio cable

Microphone

Connects to analog front and rear inputs of
speakers.
Line Out + Rear Out: Connects to
4-channel speakers.**
Line Out: Connects to 2-channel speakers and
headphones.

Connects to all IEEE 1394 compatible devices such
as the IEEE 1394 Creative digital audio player, DV
camcorder, WebCam and digital camera.

Figure 1-7: Connecting other devices to the Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) card.

Game pad

Sound Blaster
Audigy (SB1394)
card

Joystick/MIDI
bracket***

* For example,
Creative Inspire
Digital Speakers
** For example, 4­channel Creative or
Cambridge
SoundWorks analog
speaker systems
***Bundled with some
models of Sound
Blaster Audigy card.

TM

5.1

Installing Hardware 1-9