Creative Wireless Music, Sound Blaster User Manual

User’s Guide

Creative Sound Blaster Wireless Music

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 can be found on the Installation CD.

Copyright © 2003 by Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.

Version 1.0
August 2003

The Creative logo, the Sound Blaster logo, Blaster, I-trigue and Creative MediaSource are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft,
MS-DOS, Windows and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and
Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All other products are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Actual
contents may differ slightly from those pictured.

Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................... 1

Package Contents ............................................................................. 2

Minimum System Requirements ....................................................... 3

Model Number, Serial Number and MAC Address .......................... 4

More Help .......................................................................................... 4

Product Registration .......................................................................... 4

Regulatory Information ...................................................................... 5

Technical Support and Warranty ...................................................... 5

Getting Started ................................................................................. 6

Step 1: Install Software ...................................................................... 6

Step 2: Configure Hardware ............................................................. 8

Step 3: Add Tracks to PC Music Library ......................................... 13

Step 4: Set up Receiver .................................................................. 14

Step 5: Play Music ........................................................................... 18

Overview ......................................................................................... 20

Receiver ........................................................................................... 20

RF Remote ...................................................................................... 22

Software Applications ...................................................................... 25

Wireless Music Media Server ................................................. 25

Wireless Music Console ......................................................... 25

Wireless Music Network Setup ............................................... 26

Creative MediaSource ............................................................. 26

Using Your RF Remote .................................................................. 27

Selecting Menu Options .................................................................. 27

Using Multiple Receivers ................................................................. 27

Playing Music ................................................................................... 28

Playing a smart playlist ............................................................ 28

Playing a favorite playlist ......................................................... 29

Playing a playlist ...................................................................... 30

Playing tracks in the Now Playing List .................................... 30

Playing tracks from an artist .................................................... 30

Playing tracks from an album .................................................. 31

Playing tracks from a genre .................................................... 31

Viewing the Now Playing List .......................................................... 32

Setting Play Modes .......................................................................... 32

Viewing Configuration Information .................................................. 33

Checking Battery Status .................................................................. 34

Configuring Settings ...................................................................... 35

Configuring Your Receiver .............................................................. 36

Creating Smart Playlists .................................................................. 37

Assigning Favorite Playlists ............................................................. 38

About Music Files ........................................................................... 39

Downloading from the Internet ........................................................ 39

"Ripping" Audio CDs ........................................................................ 40

Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................... 41

Installation and Configuration .......................................................... 41

Operation ......................................................................................... 45

Speakers .......................................................................................... 51

Updates ............................................................................................ 52

Maintenance and Safety Advice .................................................... 53

Receiver and RF Remote ............................................................... 53

Batteries ........................................................................................... 54

Technical Specifications ............................................................... 55

Receiver ........................................................................................... 55

RF Remote ...................................................................................... 56

Glossary .......................................................................................... 57

Introduction

Thank you for choosing Creative Sound Blaster® Wireless Music.
With Sound Blaster Wireless Music, you can wirelessly stream digital music

from your computer to a standalone speaker system or a home stereo system.
Sound Blaster Wireless Music is made up of a Receiver, an RF Remote, and

software applications that will help you build and manage your digital music
collection.

T o get started, follow the installation steps in the Getting S tarted chapter , and
review the rest of this User’s Guide for information on using Sound Blaster
Wireless Music.

Introduction 1

Package Contents

Receiver

Installation CD

RF Remote

Stand

Introduction 2

RCA-to-miniplug cable

AA batteries

USB cable Power adapter

Minimum System Requirements

• Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows
2000 or Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)

®

•Intel

•128 MB RAM

• 100 MB of free hard disk space (more space is required for storing music

• CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive for software installation

• Available USB port for installation and configuration

• Network interface to an IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g compatible wireless

Pentium® II 350 MHz or equivalent

files)

network with a wireless router or access point. Network interface can be a
built-in, PCI, USB or PCMCIA interface that supports 10/100 BaseT
(Cat-5), 802.11b or 802.11g networks.

Introduction 3

Model Number, Serial Number and MAC Address

You will find a model number, a serial number and a MAC address on your
Receiver.

Y ou will need to provide model and serial numbers when contacting Technical
Support, and you will need the MAC address if you have enabled the MAC
address security feature on your wireless network. Refer to the User’s Guide
of your wireless router or access point to learn how to use the MAC address
security feature.

More Help

Visit www.soundblaster.com for the latest Sound Blaster news and products.
The site also includes information on making purchases, technical help, and
the latest driver and firmware updates.

Product Registration

Enjoy a host of benefits by registering your product during installation, or at
www.creative.com/register. Benefits include:

• Service and product support from Creative

• Exclusive updates on promotions and events

Introduction 4

Regulatory Information

Regulatory information can be found on the Installation CD.
Go to d:\fcc\<language>\doc.pdf

(replace d:\ with the drive letter of your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive and
<language> with the language that the document is in)

Technical Support and Warranty

Creative Knowledgebase
Resolve and troubleshoot technical queries at Creative's 24-hour self-help
Knowledgebase. Go to www.creative.com and select your region.

Technical Support information can be found on the Installation CD.
Go to d:\support\<language>\support.pdf

Warranty information can be found on the Installation CD as well.
Go to d:\warranty\<region>\<language>\warranty.pdf

(replace d:\ with the drive letter of your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive,
<region> with the geographical region you are in, and <language> with the
language that the document is in)

Please keep your Proof of Purchase for the duration of the Warranty
period.

Introduction 5

Getting Started

DO NOT connect your Receiver to your computer until you have installed the
software.

Step 1: Install Software

1. Turn on your computer and make sure your wireless router or access point
is set up and working properly.

• If your wireless router or access point can be configured as a DHCP server, enable
this feature. This makes it easier to add other devices to your wireless network.

• If you are setting up multiple Receivers, make sure you set them up one at a time.

2. Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive.
The disc supports Windows Autoplay mode and starts running
automatically. If not, you need to enable the Windows auto-insert
notification feature for your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive. For more
information, see "Installation and Configuration" on page 41.

Getting Started 6

3. For Windows XP only: When the Hardware Installation error message

appears, click the Continue Anyway button

For more information about this message, see "Why does a Hardware Installation error
message appear on a Windows XP operating system during installation?" on page 42.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation, and restart

your computer when you are prompted to do so.

Getting Started 7

Step 2: Configure Hardware

If there are multiple wireless networks operating in the vicinity, or your
wireless network is WEP encrypted, you will need to configure your
hardware.

If not, you can skip the following instructions and proceed to "Step 3: Add
Tracks to PC Music Library" on page 13.

1. When your computer restarts, connect your Receiver to your computer’s
USB port using the supplied USB cable.

Getting Started 8

2. Connect your Receiver to a power outlet using the supplied power adapter,

and turn on the power outlet if necessary.

3. Click Start -> Programs or All Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster

Wireless Music -> Network Setup.

Getting Started 9

4. In the Sound Blaster Wireless Music Network Setup — Network dialog
box, click a network from the list of available networks, and click the Next
button.
If your network is not listed, click the Scan button to refresh the list of
available networks, or click to select the Use this SSID check box and type
in the SSID of the network you want to connect to.

Getting Started 10

5. If your network is WEP encrypted, type in the encryption information in

the Sound Blaster Wir eless Music Network Setup — Encryption dialog
box, and click the Next button. Refer to the User’s Guide of your wireless
router or access point to learn how to check your network’s encryption
information.

If your network is WEP enabled, make sure it is in Open mode. Share Key mode is not
supported by Sound Blaster Wireless Music.

Getting Started 11

6. In the Sound Blaster Wireless Music Network Setup — IP Settings
dialog box, click the Obtain an IP address automatically option. If you
prefer to use a static IP address for your Receiver, click the Use the
following IP address option and type in values that match those of your
wireless network.

For more information on using a static IP address for you Receiver, see "How do I use a
static IP for my Receiver?" on page 44.

7. Click the Next button.

8. Click the OK button. If your settings are incompatible with those of your
network, Wireless Music Network Setup will return to the first setup page
so that you can select the correct settings.

9. Follow the onscreen instructions, and disconnect your Receiver when you
are prompted to do so.

Getting Started 12

Step 3: Add Tracks to PC Music Library

1. Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer should automatically launch when

your computer restarts after installation. To manually launch Creative
MediaSource Player/Organizer, click Start -> Programs or All Programs

-> Creative -> Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer.

2. If you are not already in Creative MediaSource Organizer, click the Player/

Organizer View button.

3. On the Task bar, click the Import button, and select Import Tracks.

The Import Wizard dialog box appears.

4. In the My Computer: panel, locate the "ripped" or downloaded music files

that you want to add to the PC Music Library.

5. Click a folder to display the tracks in it. The list of tracks is displayed in the

panel beneath the My Computer: panel.

6. To add a track, select it from the panel beneath the My Computer: panel

and click the Add File-> button.

7. To add a folder, select it from the My Computer: panel and click the Add

Folder -> button.
A list of tracks is displayed in the Files to be imported panel.

8. Click the Continue button.

9. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish adding tracks to the PC Music

Library.

For information on "ripping" and downloading music files, see "About Music Files" on
page 39.

Getting Started 13

Step 4: Set up Receiver

1. Decide where you would like to place your Receiver. For optimum
performance, make sure your Receiver is placed on a flat surface that is at
least 50 cm (20 inches) from the floor, and where there is minimum
obstruction between your Receiver and your wireless router or access
point.

2. Attach the stand to the Receiver (optional).

Getting Started 14

3. Connect your Receiver to speakers or a home stereo system (both available

c

separately) as shown in the diagrams below.

Connecting to speakers

You can connect speakers to either the LINE OUT jacks or the OPTICAL
OUT connector of your Receiver.

Audio input jack of

2 or 2.1 channel

speakers

Optical input

onnector of 2 or 2.1

channel speakers

RCA-to-miniplug cable

Optical cable
(available separately)

Getting Started 15

Connecting to a home stereo system

r

r

You can connect a home stereo system to either the LINE OUT jacks or the
OPTICAL OUT connector of your Receiver.

Optical input connector of a
stereo receiver or AV Amplifier

Optical cable
(available separately)

RCA input
jacks of a
stereo receive
or AV Amplifie

RCA cable (available separately)

• On your home stereo system, connect the RCA cable to either the CD inputs or the
auxiliary inputs (or other inputs if these are unavailable).

• When you turn on your home stereo system, make sure the stereo receiver or AV
Amplifier is in the correct input mode. For example, make sure you select auxiliary
mode if your Receiver is connected to the auxiliary inputs.

Getting Started 16

4. Connect your Receiver to a power outlet using the supplied power adapter,
and turn on the power outlet if necessary.

Getting Started 17

Step 5: Play Music

1. Insert three AA batteries into the RF Remote.

Make sure your RF Remote is no more than 10 meters (33 feet) from your Receiver when
you set up and use your RF Remote.

Getting Started 18

2. Press the Power button on your RF Remote.
Your RF Remote is automatically assigned to your Receiver if you have
only one Receiver installed on your wireless network. If not, you will need
to manually assign the RF Remote to the Receiver that you are installing.
For more information, see "Using Multiple Receivers" on page 27

.

3. When the main menu appears on the LCD, press the LIBRARY button.

4. Use the Navigation buttons to scroll to an option and press the Play button.

5. Press the Volume buttons on your RF Remote to increase or decrease the
volume.

For more information about using the RF Remote, see "Using Your RF Remote" on p age

27.

Getting Started 19

Overview

Receiver

Overview 20

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

FIND REMOTE button

Light Emitting Diode

2

(LED)

❍ Activates a beeping sound from the RF Remote. Press this

button if you need to locate your RF Remote.

❍ Assigns an RF Remote to a Receiver. This lets you use one RF

Remote with different Receivers. See "Using Multiple
Receivers" on page 27 for more information.

❍ Left (or bottom) LED lights up green when your Receiver is turned

on, and lights up red when on standby.

❍ Right (or top) LED lights up green when your Receiver is

connected to Wireless Music Media Server, flashes green when
trying to connect to the Wireless Music Media Server, flashes
amber when trying to connect to a network, and flashes red
when it is resetting.

3

USB port

OPTICAL OUT

4

connector

5

LINE OUT jacks

6

6V AC IN connector ❍ Connects to a power outlet using the supplied power adapter

❍ Connects to your computer’s USB port using the supplied USB

cable

❍ Connects to the optical input of speakers or a home stereo

system (both available separately)

❍ Connects to the input jacks of speakers or a home stereo system

(both available separately)

Overview 21

RF Remote

7

8

1
2

3
4

5
6

9

0

1

1

1

2

1

3

1

4

1

5

1

Overview 22

1

MENU button ❍ Displays the main menu on the LCD

NOW PLA YING

2

button

3

Previous button

4

Stop button

5

Pause button ❍ Pauses and resumes playback

6

MODE button

7

Power button ❍ Turns on your Receiver or sets it to standby

Liquid Crystal Display

8

(LCD)

9

LIBRARY button ❍ Displays the PC Music Library menu on the LCD

❍ Displays the track details of the track currently being playing. If

nothing is playing, or the NOW PLAYING button is pressed a
second time, the Now Playing List is displayed.

❍ Press to go to the previous track
❍ If more than 10 seconds of a track has been played, pressing this

button will skip to the beginning of the current track

❍ Press to stop playback
❍ Press and hold to delete all tracks in the Now Playing List

❍ Switches between Normal, Shuffle , Repeat All and

Shuffle/Repeat All play modes

❍ Assigns an RF Remote to a Receiver. This lets you use one RF

Remote with different Receivers. See "Using Multiple Receivers"
on page 27 for more information.

❍ Lets you view the MP3 and WMA files in the PC Music Library

Overview 23

❍ Press the Up and Down buttons to scroll through menu

options

0

Navigation buttons

1

1

Play button

1

2

Next button ❍ Press to go to the next track

1

3

Volume buttons ❍ Increases or decreases playback volume

1

❍ Press the Right button or OK button to select a highlighted

menu option, or show a list of additional options for the
highlighted menu option

❍ Press the Left button to return to the previous menu

❍ Press to start playback. This clears the Now Playing List and

plays the highlighted menu option.

❍ Press and hold to add a highlighted menu option to the Now

Playing List

4

1

MUTE button

5

FAVORITES buttons

1

Overview 24

❍ Mutes the volume. appears on the LCD when the volume is

muted.

❍ Play back favorite playlists that you have assigned to these

buttons. You can use Wireless Music Console to assign favorite
playlists. For more information, see
Playlists" on page 38.

"Assigning Favorite

Software Applications

The following software applications are integral parts of Sound Blaster
Wireless Music.They are installed on your computer when you install the
software.

Wireless Music Media Server

Wireless Music Media Server lets your computer communicate with your
Receiver, and makes it possible for Sound Blaster Wireless Music to access
your computer’s digital music collection. By default, Wireless Music Media
Server is automatically launched whenever you turn on your computer. You

will see the Wireless Music Media Server icon on your computer’s
Taskbar when Wireless Music Media Server is running.

Wireless Music Console

Wireless Music Console, on the other hand, lets you configure the settings of
your Receiver. For example, launch Wireless Music Console when you want
to create smart playlists or assign favorite playlists.

Overview 25

Wireless Music Network Setup

Wireless Music Network Setup lets you set up the network connection
between your Receiver and your wireless network.

Creative MediaSource

Creative MediaSource is your digital music center for playing, creating,
organizing and transferring digital music.

Overview 26

Using Your RF Remote

Selecting Menu Options

You can use the Navigation buttons to scroll and select menu options. For
example, if you are in the Now Playing List menu:

1. Press the Up and Down buttons to scroll up and
down the menu.

2. Press the Right button or OK button to select a
highlighted menu option, or show a list of additional
options for the highlighted menu option.

3. Press the Left button to return to the previous menu.

Using Multiple Receivers

You can use up to four Receivers on a wireless network. If you are using
multiple Receivers, you can use one RF Remote to control all the Receivers.
Your RF Remote, however, can only control one Receiver at a time. To select
the Receiver that your RF Remote controls, you need to assign the RF Remote
to the Receiver that you want to control.

To assign an RF Remote to a Receiver

1. Press and hold the MODE button on the RF Remote until the LED on the
Receiver starts flashing. This may take about 5 seconds.

Using Your RF Remote 27

2. Press the FIND REMOTE button on the Receiver.

The LCD of your RF Remote displays the name of the Receiver it is
assigned to.

Make sure your RF Remote is no more than 10 meters (33 feet) from your Receiver when
you are assigning it.

Playing Music

Playing a smart playlist

A smart playlist automatically generates playlists from the PC Music Library
based on your preferences. A different playlist is created each time a smart
playlist is selected. Several smart playlists are pre-installed for you to use
immediately.

1. Press the LIBRARY button.

2. Scroll to the Smart Playlist option and press the Right button or OK

button.

3. Scroll to a smart playlist and press the Play button to start playback, or
press and hold the Play button to add the tracks in the selected smart
playlist to the Now Playing List.
To view the tracks listed under the highlighted smart playlist, press the

Right button or OK button.

For information on creating smart playlists, see "Creating Smart Playlists" on page 37.

Using Your RF Remote 28

Playing a favorite playlist

Favorite playlists are playlists that are assigned to the FAVORITES buttons
on your RF Remote.

Press a FAVORITES button to play back the assigned playlist. The first three
FAVORITES buttons are preset with smart playlists for your convenience.

Alternatively, you can select favorite playlists from the Favorite Playlists
menu.

To play a favorite playlist from the Favorite Playlists menu

1. Press the MENU button.

2. Scroll to the Favorite Playlists option and press the Right button or OK

button.

3. Scroll to a favorite playlist and press the Play button to start playback, or

press and hold the Play button to add the tracks in the selected favorite
playlist to the Now Playing List.
To view the tracks listed under the highlighted favorite playlist, press the

Right button or OK button.

For information on assigning playlists to the FAVORITES buttons, see "Assigning
Favorite Playlists" on page 38.

Using Your RF Remote 29

Playing a playlist

1. Press the LIBRARY button.

2. Scroll to the Playlist option and press the Right button or OK button.

3. Scroll to a playlist and press the Play button to start playback, or press and
hold the Play button to add the tracks in the selected playlist to the Now
Playing List.

To view the tracks listed under the highlighted playlist, press the Right
button or OK button.

Playing tracks in the Now Playing List

1. Press the NOW PLAYING button.

2. Press the Play button.

3. If the Now Playing List is empty, the favorite playlist assigned to the first
FAVORITES button plays by default.

Playing tracks from an artist

1. Press the LIBRARY button.

2. Scroll to the Artist option and press the Right button or OK button.

3. Scroll to the first letter of the artist name you want and press the Right
button or OK button. If the artist name starts with a number or punctuation

mark, scroll to 0-9 and press the Right button or OK button.

4. Scroll to an artist and press the Play button to start playback, or press and
hold the Play button to add all tracks from the selected artist to the Now
Playing List.

To view the albums listed under the highlighted artist, press the Right
button or OK button.

Using Your RF Remote 30

Playing tracks from an album

1. Press the LIBRARY button.

2. Scroll to the Album option and press the Right button or OK button.

3. Scroll to the first letter of the album name you want and press the Right

button or OK button. If the album name starts with a number or
punctuation mark, scroll to 0-9 and press the Right button or OK button.

4. Scroll to an album and press the Play button to start playback, or press and

hold the Play button to add the tracks from the selected album to the Now
Playing List.

To view the tracks listed under the highlighted album, press the Right
button or OK button.

Playing tracks from a genre

1. Press the LIBRARY button.

2. Scroll to the Genre option and press the Right button or OK button.

3. Scroll to a genre and press the Play button to start playback, or press and

hold the Play button to add the tracks from the selected genre to the Now
Playing List.

To view the artists listed under the highlighted genre, press the Right
button or OK button.

Using Your RF Remote 31

Viewing the Now Playing List

Press the NOW PLAYING button to view the Now Playing List. You can
view the Now Playing List at anytime. If a track is being played back the
following information is displayed:

• artist and album name

• title of the track

•elapsed time

• order number of current track and total number of tracks in the Now

Playing List

Setting Play Modes

Press the MODE button to switch between the following play modes:

• Normal

Resumes playing tracks in sequence.

• Shuffle

Plays all tracks in the Now Playing List in random order.

• Repeat All

Repeats all tracks in the Now Playing List.

• Shuffle/Repeat All

Plays and repeats a random track in the Now Playing List.

Using Your RF Remote 32

Viewing Configuration Information

The System menu lets you view the following information:

• Receiver name

• Receiver MAC address

• Receiver IP address

• Receiver firmware version

• RF Remote firmware version

• number of tracks in the PC Music Library

To display the System menu

1. Press the MENU button.

2. Scroll to the System option and press the Right button or OK button.

You can also reset your Receiver from the System menu. For more information, see
"How do I reset my Receiver?" on page 48.

Using Your RF Remote 33

Checking Battery Status

The LCD may display one of the following icons to indicate the battery status:

❍ Batteries are full

❍ Batteries are 60% full

❍ Batteries are 30% full

❍ Replace your batteries as soon as you can

Using Your RF Remote 34

Configuring Settings

You can configure settings using Wireless Music Console.

To launch Wireless Music Console

X Click Start -> Programs or All Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster

Wireless Music -> Console.

For more information about using Wireless Music Console, refer to its online help.

Configuring Settings 35

Configuring Your Receiver

1. In Wireless Music Console, click the Settings button.

2. Click the Receiver tab.

3. Select a Receiver and click the Edit button.

4. Change the settings of your Receiver and click the OK button.

Configuring Settings 36

Creating Smart Playlists

1. In Wireless Music Console, click the Smart Playlist button.

2. In the Smart Playlist Manager dialog box, click the New button.

3. In the Smart Playlist Name box, type in a name for your smart playlist.

4. Select your preferences and click the OK button.

5. To change settings of an existing smart playlist, select a smart playlist in

the Smart Playlist Manager dialog box, and click the Edit button.

Configuring Settings 37

Assigning Favorite Playlists

1. In Wireless Music Console, click the Settings button.

2. Click the Favorites Playlist tab.

3. In each Favorite Playlists box, click the list box to select a playlist.

4. Click the OK button.

The first three FAVORITES buttons are preset with smart playlists for your convenience.

Configuring Settings 38

About Music Files

You can download music files from Internet music sites, or "rip" music files
from audio CDs to your computer. However, you can only play back MP3 and
WMA files with Sound Blaster Wireless Music.

MP3 and WMA files are music files that have lossy compression encoding,
which means that some data is lost during compression. However, using
standard sampling rates and bitrates will ensure that these music files retain
much of their audio quality. The standard bitrate of most MP3 files is 128
Kbps, although some are set higher, at 160 or 192 Kbps. The standard bitrate
for most WMA files is 64 Kbps. Higher bitrates will result in better audio
quality, but file sizes will be larger as a consequence.

Downloading from the Internet

To get MP3 files from the Internet, use a search engine to locate sites with
MP3 content. You can also try out these sites (web sites listed here are correct
at the time of this document’s release):

• NOMADWorld (www.NOMADworld.com)

•AMP3.com (www.amp3.com)

• SoundClick.com (www.soundclick.com)

• ArtistOne.com (www.artistone.com)

• Soundbuzz.com (www.soundbuzz.com)
Follow the instructions on the sites to download the music files to your

computer.

About Music Files 39

"Ripping" Audio CDs

The first phase of "ripping" is extracting audio data (usually WAV files) from
an audio CD. Encoding is the second phase, where the audio data is converted
into MP3 or WMA files. To "rip" audio CDs, you will need a CD-ROM/
DVD-ROM drive that can extract digital audio data, and a program such as
Creative MediaSource that can extract and encode this data. With Creative
MediaSource, you can "rip" most audio CDs, as well as organize and transfer
these "ripped" files.

The time needed for a successful audio extraction depends on:

• CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive speed

• defects, like scratches on the audio CD

• error-checking features on the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive

To rip an audio CD using Creative MediaSource

1. Insert an audio CD into your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive.

2. Click Start -> Programs or All Programs -> Creative -> Creative
MediaSource Player/Organizer.

3. If you are not already in Creative MediaSource Organizer, click the Player/
Organizer View button.

4. In the Sources window, select [d:] Audio CD (replace d: with your
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive).

5. In the Task bar, click the Rip Now button.

For more information about using Creative MediaSource, refer to its online Help.

About Music Files 40

Frequently Asked Questions

This section covers common problems you might encounter or questions you
might have while using this product. If you have a technical problem with this
product, you may wish to consult our self-help tool “Knowledgebase” for
online troubleshooting and solutions. Go to www.creative.com and select
your region.

Installation and Configuration

What do I do when the installation does not start automatically
after the Installation CD is inserted?

The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled.

To st art the inst allation program through the My Computer shortcut menu

1. On your Windows desktop, double-click the My Computer icon.

2. Right-click the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive icon, and then click AutoPlay.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

To enable AutoPlay through Auto Insert Notification

1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.

2. Double-click the System icon. The System Properties dialog box appears.

3. Click the Device Manager tab and select your CD-ROM drive.

4. Click the Properties button.

5. Click the Settings tab, and then select Auto Insert Notification.

Frequently Asked Questions 41

6. Click the OK button.

To start the installation program through Windows Explorer

1. In Windows Explorer, search and locate the d:\ctrun folder (replace d:\
with the drive letter of your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive).

2. Double-click the ctrun.exe file.

Why does a Hardware Installation error message appear on a
Windows XP operating system during installation?

At the time of this product's release, Microsoft strongly encouraged
companies to submit their hardware solutions for certification. If a hardware
device driver is not submitted, or does not qualify, for Microsoft certification,
a warning message similar to the one shown here, appears.

Frequently Asked Questions 42

You may see the message when installing this driver. If you do, you may
choose to click the Continue Anyway button. Creative has tested this driver
on Windows XP, and it does not impair or destabilize your computer.

Why do I have to specify configuration settings during
installation?

Although Sound Blaster Wireless Music is designed to be easy to install,
configuration-free installation is only possible when:

• yours is the only wireless network operating in the vicinity

• your wireless router or access point is operating in default mode, where

WEP encryption is disabled and beacon message is enabled

Why do I have problems connecting to my wireless network when I
use an 802.11g router?

Your 802.11g router may be running on an older firmware version. Download
and install the latest version of your router’s firmware that provides full

802.11g compatibility. Contact your router’s manufacturer for more
information.

How do I know if my Receiver is connected to my wireless
network?

The System menu on your RF Remote displays the IP address of your
Receiver. The only difference between this IP address and the IP address of
the computer that Wireless Music Media Server is running on, is the last

Frequently Asked Questions 43

number. For example, the IP address of your Receiver can be 192.168.1.100,
whilst the IP address of the computer that Wireless Music Media Server is
running on is 192.168.1.101.

What do I do if my Receiver is not connected to my wireless
network?

• Try moving your Receiver closer to your wireless router or access point, or

vice versa

• Make sure your wireless router or access point is active and transmitting

data

• Connect your Receiver to your computer and reconfigure your Receiver’s

connection settings using Wireless Music Network Setup. For more
information, see "Step 2: Configure Hardware" on page 8.

How do I check the IP address of the computer that Wireless
Music Media Server is running on?

Move the mouse over the Wireless Music Media Server icon on your
computer’s Taskbar. A dialog box will appear showing the IP address of the
computer. The Taskbar is usually located at the bottom right corner of your
desktop.

How do I use a static IP for my Receiver?

1. Click Start -> Programs or All Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster
Wireless Music -> Network Setup.

Frequently Asked Questions 44

2. In the Sound Blaster Wireless Music Network Setup — IP Settings

dialog box, click the Use the following IP address option.

3. In the IP address box, type in a value that matches the IP address of the

computer that Wireless Music Media Server is running on except for the
last number. For example, the IP address of your Receiver can be

192.168.1.100, whilst the IP address of the computer that Wireless Music
Media Server is running on is 192.168.1.101.

4. In the Subnet box, type in a value that is identical to that of your wireless

network.

Operation

My computer does not have an audio card. Will Sound Blaster
Wireless Music work?

Yes, Sound Blaster Wireless Music does not require an audio card to work.
However, you will not be able to preview tracks with W ireless Music Console
on your computer.

Can I play back Internet streaming audio?

No. This feature is currently not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions 45

Can I play back songs from audio CDs?

No, but you can rip songs from audio CDs into MP3 or WMA formats with
Creative MediaSource™ Organizer. Creative MediaSource is installed on
your computer when you install the software. For more information about
ripping songs from audio CDs, see ""Ripping" Audio CDs" on page 40.

I cannot play back some of my MP3 and WMA files. Why is this?

Make sure that your MP3 and WMA files have not been moved since they
were imported into Creative MediaSource.

Also, if your MP3 and WMA files are encoded using Digital Rights
Management (DRM), they cannot be played back on your Sound Blaster
Wireless Music.

After pressing the Play button on my RF Remote, the Play icon is
displayed on the LCD but I do not hear anything. What do I do?

• Increase the volume using your RF Remote

• Increase the volume of your speakers or home stereo system

• Make sure your Receiver is connected to your speakers or home stereo

system

• Make sure your speakers or home stereo system is turned on

Frequently Asked Questions 46

What is the PC Music Library?

The PC Music Library is your collection of digital audio tracks in Creative
MediaSource. In Creative MediaSource, you can have more than one PC
Music Library. When sharing the same computer, multiple users can each
have their own music library, each with its own settings. However, only one
music library can be active at one time.

Can the PC Music Library be automatically updated?

Yes. You can use Creative MediaSource’s Media Sniffer tool to monitor or
'watch' folders in your computer. With Media Sniffer enabled, the PC Music
Library is updated when tracks in monitored folders are added, deleted or
moved. This helps to prevent broken links in the PC Music Library. For more
information about using Creative MediaSource, refer to its online help.

What do I do if my Receiver does not detect my music files?

• Go to the System menu on your RF Remote and check that your Receiver

is connected to Wireless Music Media Server

• Make sure that music files have been imported using Creative

MediaSource. You can check the System menu on your RF Remote for the
number of tracks that have been imported.

Frequently Asked Questions 47

How many Receivers can I use on a wireless network?

A wireless network can support up to four Receivers playing at the same time.
Additional Receivers may be installed provided that not more than four are
playing at the same time.

How do I reset my Receiver?

For normal operation, you only need to set your Receiver to standby using the
RF Remote.

However, if you want to fully reset your Receiver, disconnect your Receiver
from the power outlet and wait for a few seconds before reconnecting it to the
power outlet.

Alternatively, use your RF Remote to reset your Receiver:

1. Press the MENU button.

2. Scroll to the System option and press the Right button or OK button.

3. Scroll to the Reboot option and press the OK button.

Can I search for tracks using my RF Remote?

Yes, you can search for tracks by artist, album and genre using your RF
Remote. For more information, see "Playing Music" on page 28.

Frequently Asked Questions 48

What do I do if my RF Remote does not display anything?

• Press the Power button on your RF Remote

• Make sure the batteries are not flat, and are properly inserted in your RF

Remote

• Make sure you are using your RF Remote within 10 meters (33 feet) of

your Receiver

• Make sure your Receiver is connected to a power outlet, and the power

outlet is turned on if necessary

What do I do when the System menu on my RF Remote displays
the "No Server" message?

• Make sure Wireless Music Media Server is running on your computer. To

launch Wireless Music Media Server, click Start -> Programs or All
Programs -> Creative Wireless Music -> Media Server. You will see

the Wireless Music Media Server icon on your computer’s Taskbar
when Wireless Music Media Server is running. The Taskbar is usually
located at the bottom of your desktop.

• Make sure your computer and your Receiver are within transmission range

of your wireless router or access point

• Make sure your Receiver is connected to the wireless network.

• If you are using a static IP address, make sure that there is no IP address

conflict with another computer or device

Frequently Asked Questions 49

If you the "No Server" message still appears after you have gone through the
above checks, you can:

• Close and then launch Wireless Music Media Server

• Reset your Receiver. For more information, see "How do I reset my

Receiver?" on page 48

How do I reset my RF Remote?

Remove your RF Remote’s batteries, and then re-insert them.

Why does the LCD of my RF Remote go blank after a few seconds?

This is a power saving feature of your RF Remote. Pushing any button on the
RF Remote will display the menu options on the LCD again. Note that
pushing any of the blue buttons on the RF Remote will immediately activate
the Receiver. For example, if you press the Play button, playback will start.

Why does nothing happen when I press a FAVORITES button on
my RF Remote?

Check to see if the FAVORITES button you pressed is associated with a
smart playlist that has conditions that are not met by any tracks. For example,
no playlist will be played back if the smart playlist has a "Tracks added in last
30 days" condition and no tracks have been added during that period.

The first three FAVORITES buttons are preset with smart playlists for your
convenience. Y ou can manually reset all FAVORITES buttons using Wireless
Music Console.

Frequently Asked Questions 50

Why does music play when I press the Play button without
selecting anything?

This feature is for your convenience. When nothing is selected and the Play
button is pressed, the playlist assigned to the first FAVORITES button will be
played back.

Why is there no beeping sound from my RF Remote when I press
the FIND REMOTE button on my Receiver?

• Your RF Remote may be out of range.

• Your RF Remote’s batteries may be flat

Speakers

What type of speakers should I use?

You can connect any amplified digital or analog 2 or 2.1 channel speaker
system. For high-quality sound, we recommend the following Creative
I-Trigue™ range of speakers:

• Creative I-Trigue 2.1 L3300

• Creative I-Trigue L3500

• Creative I-Trigue L3450
The availability of Creative speakers varies from country to country. Check

www.creative.com/speakers or your local Creative office/distributor for
details.

Frequently Asked Questions 51

Can I listen to music in surround sound?

No, Sound Blaster Wireless Music only supports stereo output. However,
some Creative speaker systems feature Creative Music Surround Sound
(CMSS) that upmixes stereo input to 5.1 channels or above.

Updates

Where can I get more information on all Sound Blaster products?

Visit www.soundblaster.com for updates and downloads relating to all Sound
Blaster products.

Frequently Asked Questions 52

Maintenance and Safety Advice

Receiver and RF Remote

• Store away from direct sunlight.

• Do not expose to heat or fire.

• Avoid using or storing in surroundings that exceed 45°C (113°F).

• Keep away from excessive moisture.

• Do not subject to excessive force or impact.

• Do not modify or disassemble.

• Only clean the product with a soft dry cloth. Do not use liquid cleaners.

• Only qualified personnel should repair or service the product.

• Remember to set the volume at a moderate level. Listening to music at

high volumes can impair your hearing and damage your speakers.

Maintenance and Safety Advice 53

Batteries

• Store away from direct sunlight.

• Do not expose to heat or fire.

• Avoid using or storing in surroundings that exceed 45ºC (113ºF).

• Keep away from excessive moisture.

• Do not subject to excessive force or impact.

• Do not modify or disassemble.

• Avoid contact with metal objects.

• Do not pierce or crush.

• If there is leakage, stench, discoloration or deformation during charging or

use, remove the battery and do not use it again. Clean your hands well
before handling food or touching sensitive areas of your body, for
example, your eyes.

Maintenance and Safety Advice 54

Technical Specifications

Receiver

Standards

❑ IEEE 802.11b

Interface

❑ USB 1.1 port for Receiver installation and configuration
❑ Two RCA jacks for analog output
❑ Optical connector for optical SPDIF output

Antenna

❑ Built-in antenna (2.4 GHz)
❑ Built-in antenna (433 MHz — 924 MHz)

Frequency Band (802.11)

❑ 2.412 GHz — 2.472 GHz

Frequency Band (RF Remote)

❑ US (FCC): 906 MHz, 910 MHz, 917 MHz, 924 MHz
❑ Europe (CE): 433.3 MHz, 433.7 MHz, 434.1 MHz, 434.5 MHz

Data Rate

❑ 11, 5.5, 2, 1 Mbps

Channels

❑ 11 Channels (US, Canada), 13 Channels (Europe)

Technical Specifications 55

Security

❑ 64 or 128-bit WEP encryption

Range

❑ Indoors: Up to 50 meters (164 feet) at 11 Mbps, subject to the signal strength

of your wireless network

❑ Outdoors: Up to 150 meters (492 feet) at 11 Mbps, subject to the signal

strength of your wireless network

Playback Formats

❑ MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) and Windows Media Audio (WMA)

Power Adapter

❑ 6VAC 1.5A adaptor

RF Remote

LCD

❑ 132 x 64 pixel backlit display

Antenna

❑ Built-in antenna (433 MHz — 924 MHz)

Frequency Band

❑ US (FCC): 906 MHz, 910 MHz, 917 MHz, 924 MHz
❑ Europe (CE): 433.3 MHz, 433.7 MHz, 434.1 MHz, 434.5 MHz

Range (between RF Remote and Receiver)

❑ Up to 10 meters (33 feet) based on open space usage

Power Requirements

❑ 3 AA batteries

Technical Specifications 56

Glossary

Ad-hoc mode

A small peer-to-peer network mode, in which wireless clients are connected to
each other directly without using an access point. Some of the wireless clients
are part of the network for a limited duration. They are also in close proximity
with the rest of the network. According to the IEEE 802.11b specification,
Ad-hoc mode is referred to as an independent basic service set.

Antenna

A device that intercepts radio frequency (RF) waves from the atmosphere and
converts them to corresponding signal voltages.

Access Point (AP)

A networking device that transparently bridges wireless computers to a wired
local network.

Bandwidth

A measure of the maximum rate of data transfer. A higher bandwidth allows
more data transmission in a given period of time. For digital services, the
bandwidth is usually expressed in bits or bytes per second.

BSS (Basic Service Set)

A group of wireless clients and an access point using the same ID (SSID).

Glossary 57

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

A method of assigning a temporary IP address to a host, such as a computer,
connected on a specific network. With dynamic addressing, a particular host
may have a different IP address each time it connects to the network.

Dynamic IP address

See DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

Encryption

A procedure to convert a file from its original form to one that can be read
only by the intended recipient.

IEEE 802.11

A family of wireless network standards, which includes 802.11a, 802.11b,

802.11e, and 802.11g. The original 802.11 standard was first approved in

1997 but was not very successful because it was relatively slow at 2 Mbps.

IEEE 802.11b

A high-bit wireless network standard that works on the 2.4 GHz band and
utilizes DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum) technology. It offers data bit
rates of up to 11 Mbps and the range is from 200 to 300 feet for maximum
speed.

Glossary 58

IEEE 802.11g

A new 802.11 standard for wireless networking hardware. The 802.11g
standard specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps, an operating
frequency of 2.4 GHz, backward compatibility with 802.11b devices and
WEP encryption for security.

Infrastructure mode

A LAN or other small network mode in which wireless clients are part of the
network and use one or more access points to connect to a wired network.
Each access point is connected to the Ethernet network using a standard
Ethernet cable. In IEEE 802.11b specification, the infrastructure mode is
referred to as the Basic Service Set.

IP (Internet Protocol)

The standard protocol within TCP/IP that defines the basic unit of information
by breaking down data messages into packets, routing and transporting the
packets over networks, then reassembling the packets at their destination. IP
corresponds to the Network layer (layer 3) in the ISP/OSI model.

IP address

The address for a computer on a TCP/IP network. The IP address identifies a
particular machine on a network. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit
numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number
can be 0 to 255, for example, 11.160.10.240 is an IP address. Any machine
connected to the Internet is assigned an IP address.

Glossary 59

LAN (Local Area Network)

A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are
confined to an office, single building, or group of buildings.

MAC (Media Access Control) address

A unique number that is assigned by manufacturers to each Ethernet network
device. A MAC address lets a network identify Ethernet network devices at
the hardware level.

Router

A hardware device that connects two separately functional networks using the
same or different protocols. Routers look at the destination addresses on the
packets passing through them and then decide which route to send them on.

SSID (Service Set Identity)

A group name shared by all members of an IEEE 802.11 standard wireless
network. Only wireless devices with the same SSID are allowed to establish
connections.

Static IP address

A permanent IP address assigned to a computer (host) connected on a specific
network.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

A suite of communication protocols that are used by computers or networking
devices on the Internet so that they can communicate with each other. TCP/IP
uses several protocols, the two main being TCP and IP.

Glossary 60

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

A plug-and-play interface that allows the user to attach a device without
having to add an adapter card and turning off the computer.

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

A wired security policy defined by the IEEE 802.11 working group. WEP
uses the RC-4 40-bit encryption algorithm to scramble all data before it is
transmitted. Vendors add proprietary encryption features to their software,
taking the encryption level up to 128 bits.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is promoted by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA).
It places a stamp of certification on wireless products that are interoperable
with other 802.11b compliant products.

Glossary 61