Hercules DIGIFIRE User Manual

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................2

1.1. Technical specifications .............................................................................................. 2

1.2. System requirements .................................................................................................. 2

2. HARDWARE INSTALLATION........................................................................................... 3

3. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION............................................................................................ 5

3.1. Driver installation ........................................................................................................ 5

3.1.1. Driver installation for Windows 98 SE ............................................................. 5

3.1.2. Driver installation for Windows Millennium ..................................................... 6

3.1.3. Driver installation for Windows 2000............................................................... 7

3.1.4. Driver installation for Windows XP .................................................................. 8

3.2. Applications installation............................................................................................... 9

4. CONNECTORS ................................................................................................................11

5. POSITIONING THE SPEAKERS ..................................................................................... 12

6. SOUND CARD CONFIGURATION.................................................................................. 13

6.1. FireWire ports............................................................................................................ 13

6.2. The DIGIFIRE 7.1 control panel................................................................................ 13

6.2.1. Introduction.................................................................................................... 13

6.2.2. General points............................................................................................... 14

6.2.3. The optical digital output ............................................................................... 14

7. TECHNICAL SUPPORT .................................................................................................. 15

7.1. If you need to return a product.................................................................................. 15

7.2. Save time by registering your product online!........................................................... 15

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Technical specifications

Data transfer  PCI 2.1 bus DSP (Digital Signal Processor) Audio quality  Full duplex

Game compatibility  Sensaura based 3D positional audio with support for Microsoft

Audio compatibility  Microsoft DirectSound and DirectMusic compatible

Software wavetable synthesizer

 Cirrus Logic SoundFusion CS4624

 CD and Pro Audio quality: 20-bit quad output and 18-bit dual

stereo input codec

 Up to 48kHz sampling rate

DirectSound 3D, EAX 1.0, EAX 2.0, A3D 1.0, I3DL2, MacroFX, MultiDrive, ZoomFX and EnvironmentFX

 Sound Blaster

 Dolby Surround  Dolby Digital  Dolby Digital EX  DSP accelerated engine for unlimited number of voices (64-voice

hardware)

 8MB General MIDI/GS sample set  DLS 1.0 compatible  GM (General MIDI) and Yamaha XG compatible  Yamaha S-YXG50:

- 676 instrument sounds and 21 drum kits

- Effects: reverb, chorus, variation…

1.2. System requirements

 Intel Pentium II or AMD-K6 and higher or compatible  PCI 2.1 slot  64MB RAM  CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive  Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Millennium, 2000 or XP

Log on now to our website (www.hercules.com consult the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) relating to your sound card and take advantage of user manual updates. You can also have a look at the complete range of Hercules products and find out about forthcoming releases.

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) to download the latest drivers and software,

2. HARDWARE INSTALLATION

If your computer is already equipped with a sound card, you must remove all existing drivers to avoid any subsequent conflict between old and new drivers.

Some sound cards are integrated into your PC motherboard and cannot therefore be physically uninstalled. Contact your PC manufacturer for details on how to disable these chipsets.

Switch off the PC and any peripherals such as the monitor or printer.

Unplug the power supply cable(s).

Remove the PC cover (for further information,

consult your PC manual).

If a sound card has not been previously installed,

unscrew the slot cover corresponding to the appropriate PCI slot and remove it.

If your PC already has a sound card, remove it,

keeping the screw which attached the previous card.

Static electricity can severely damage electronic components. Before removing the card from its plastic bag, touch the metallic back plate of your PC with your hand to discharge any static electricity from your body.

- Do not touch the printed circuits on the card.

- Do not let anybody else hold the card.

- Do not let your clothes touch any of the components.

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If you wish to connect a MIDI device or a non USB games accessory:

Connect the MIDI / game port extension to the

JOYSTICK/MIDI

Insert your sound card into its slot, pushing firmly

on the card to make sure it is properly fixed in place.

Screw the card bracket into position on your

computer chassis.

If you have connected the MIDI / game port

extension to your sound card, screw the extension’s metal bracket to the computer’s frame.

Connect your CD-ROM / DVD-ROM drive to your

sound card by connecting the audio cable (not included) to the you do not connect the drive to the sound card, there will be no sound from your audio CDs!)

If you have a CD / DVD writer:

Connect your writer to your sound card by connecting the audio cable (not included) to the

CD IN 2

the writer to the sound card, there will be no sound from your audio CDs!)

Replace the PC cover and reconnect the power

supply cable(s).

Note: the CD IN 1 and CD IN 2 inputs are analog inputs. If you wish, you can connect one of your drives to the numeric input (S/PDIF IN) on the DIGIFIRE 7.1 card using a numeric audio cable (not supplied).

connector on your sound card.

CD IN 1

input on your card. (If

input on your card. (If you do not connect

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3. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

Once your sound card has been installed, switch your PC back on. Because the configuration of the card is Plug and Play, Windows will automatically detect its presence.

N.B.: your installation screens and procedure may vary slightly from those described in this manual.

Because drivers are constantly being developed, the driver provided on your CD-ROM may not be the most recent version. You can visit the Hercules website (www.hercules.com) to verify this and, if necessary, download the very latest version.

3.1. Driver installation

3.1.1. Driver installation for Windows 98 SE

You will need to insert your Windows CD-ROM to install the FireWire drivers.

Windows will display an following device:

- Click on

Windows will display an following device:

- Click on

PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge

4 times to install the default drivers.

Finish

to complete the setup.

PCI Multimedia Audio Device

Cancel

to install your optimized Hercules drivers.

Add New Hardware Wizard

Windows will display an box informing you that the system has found the following device:

- Insert the Windows CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.

- Click on

The wizard will suggest a

device. (Recommended)

- Click on

dialog box informing you that the system has found the

Add New Hardware Wizard

PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

Search for the best driver for your

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