M-AUDIO Sonica Theater User Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Sonica Theater Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

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

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Windows 98SE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Mac OS 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Physical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

USB Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Speaker Output Jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Line Input Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Explanation of Surround Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Sonica Theater Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Speaker Setup Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Output Mixer Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Surround Sound Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Input/Other Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

About Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Sonica Theater Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

DVD Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Music Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Gaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Tr oubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Sonica Theater

User Guide

version: SonicaThtr-012103

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Sonica Theater by M-Audio. Sonica Theater is your audio upgrade for any PC or Macintosh computer,* utilizing the convenience of your computer’s USB port—no tools, computer disassembly, or additional power source is needed. The Sonica Theater brings you true 24-bit, 96kHz audio and the highest-quality stereo, virtual surround, and multi-channel surround sound available today.

Please take the time to read this User Guide. It will tell you how to install the Sonica Theater on your particular computer and instruct you on how to get the most from your Sonica Theater audio interface.

* Must meet minimum system requirements

Sonica Theater Features

•A portable audio upgrade for laptop and desktop computers,supporting

professional, two-channel 24-bit/96kHz recording and playback

• 97dB Dynamic Range (typical A-weighted, -60 dB input), 97dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (typical,A-weighted) and -87dB THD+N(typical)

• Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3)®, Dolby Pro Logic®, DTS®, and

other encoded multi-channel formats

• SRS TruSurround XT™ technology (delivers 5.1 virtual surround sound

over stereo speakers),Deep Bass Enhancement, and Dialog Enhancement™

•Advanced SRS CircleSurround II™ technology creates true

multi-channel surround sound from your stereo MP3s, CDs, and other audio sources

•Sonica Theater supports the following sampling frequencies (kHz):

11.025, 22.05, 32.0, 44.1, 48.0, 88.2 & 96.0

• Sonica Theater supports the following output formats: 24-bit Linear PCM;

16-bit Linear PCM; 16-bit AC-3, Dolby Pro Logic, or DTS over optical connector

• S/PDIF Optical Out

• Completely USB-powered (no power supply required)

• Analog output for powered speakers or stereo receiver

• One-year warranty

System Requirements

The Sonica Theater has been designed to work with Windows 98Se, Me, 2000, or XP and Mac OS 9 or OS X. Specific requirements are as follows:

Windows® PC:

Minimum Required—

• 200 MHz Pentium with MMX

• 64MB RAM

• CD-ROM Drive

•Available USB 1.1 Port

• Windows® 98Se, 2000, Me or XP

Recommended—

• 700 MHz Pentium with MMX

• 128MB RAM

•DVD-ROM drive & player applications (for Dolby Digital playback)

•Available USB 1.1 Port

• Windows 2000 or XP

Apple Macintosh®:

Minimum Required—

• Apple Macintosh® G3, G4, iBook or PowerBook with available built-in USB port

• 64MB RAM

• CD-ROM Drive

• Mac OS 9.2.2 or later, or Mac OS X version 10.1 or later

Recommended—

• Apple Macintosh® G4, iBook or PowerBook with available built-in USB port

• 500MHz G4 processor

• 128MB RAM

•DVD-ROM Drive

• Mac OS X version 10.1 or later

Package Contents

Your Sonica Theater was carefully packed at the factory and the carton was designed to protect the unit during shipping—Please retain this container in the unlikely event that you need to return your Sonica Theater for service.

The following items are included with your Sonica Theater:

•Sonica Theater audio interface

• One (1) high-quality USB cable

• M-Audio Driver CD (includes driver installation software)

•Additional software installation CDs

• This Product Manual

•Warranty Registration Card

Software Installation

Your Sonica Theater comes with driver software that allows it to communicate with your computer’s operating system, Windows or Mac OS. Please skip to your computer’s operating system in this section and follow those instructions. The Sonica Theater’s driver software, which includes SRS Circle Surround II and TruSurround XT, will load during this installation. You will also want to install the DVD playback software provided on the additional included CDs.

Your Sonica Theater uses a standard USB cable, which is supplied with the unit. Before connecting the Sonica Theater to your computer, you should first install the software drivers as described below. After installing the included drivers, plug the “computer end” of the cable into your computer’s USB port.When you are asked to connect your Sonica Theater during driver software installation, simply plug the “device end” of the USB cable into your Sonica Theater.The “computer end” and “device end” will be easily identifiable by their size and shape.

Windows XP

1. Place the Sonica Theater Software CD into your CD-ROM Drive.

2. Launch the Sonica Theater Installer.exe program.

3. The Sonica Theater install screen will appear. Click “Next” to continue.

4. On the next screen that appears, click “Continue.” The CD performance enhancements page will then appear. Click “Next.”

5. The installation program will inform you of a successful hardware installation. Click “Next.”

6. Click “Finish” on the next screen that appears. This will cause Windows to restart your computer.

7. You may now connect the Sonica Theater to your computer (refer to the Hardware Installation section of this manual for instructions).

8. After your Sonica Theater has been connected and your computer has finished restarting, Windows will tell you that your hardware has not passed Windows Logo testing. Click “Continue” to complete the installation process.

Windows 2000

1Place the Sonica Theater Software CD into your CD-ROM Drive.

2. Launch the Sonica Theater Installer.exe program.

3. The Sonica Theater install screen will appear. Click “Next” to continue.

4. Click “Yes” to continue.

5. Click “Next” twice.

Click “Finish” on the next screen that appears. This will cause Windows to restart your computer.

6. You may now connect the Sonica Theater to your computer (refer to the Hardware Installation section of this manual for instructions).

7. After your computer restarts, you will be prompted with a note about “Digital Signature not found.” Click “Yes.”

8. In the final screen,Windows will ask you to restart your computer. Click “Finish,” then restart your computer to complete the installation process.

Windows Me

1. Place the Sonica Theater Software CD into your CD-ROM Drive.

2. Launch the Sonica Theater Installer.exe program.

3. The Sonica Theater install screen will appear. Click “Next” to continue.

4. A screen appears that displays checked boxes for Digital Audio and DMA transfer. Click “Next”.

5. The installation program will inform you of a successful hardware installation. Click “Next.”

6. This next screen explains that your computer now needs to be restarted. Make sure that the box labeled “Yes, . ..” is checked, then click “Finish” to continue restarting.

NOTE: If you un-check the box labeled “Yes, restart my computer now.,” you will again, with a new screen, be prompted to restart.This is because DMA Mode has been enabled.

7. You may now connect the Sonica Theater to your computer (refer to the Hardware Installation section of this manual for instructions).

8. After your Sonica Theater has been connected and your computer has finished restarting, installation will have been completed.

Windows 98SE

1. Insert the Sonic Theater CD into your CD-ROM drive and double-click on the file named “Sonica Theater Installer.exe”.

2. Close all running applications, as directed by the first screen that appears. and click “Next,” to continue.

Direct X 8.1 must be installed on your computer. If this has not been previoulsy done, the installer program will do this for you now.

3. The next screen will allow notify you that the necessary parameters for Digital Audio CD and DVD playback need to be set in your operating system. Leave these boxes checked and click “Next.”

4. The next screen shows that the drivers have been successfully installed. Click “Next.”

5. Windows will now tell you that your computer needs to be restarted. Make sure that the “Yes” box is checked, and click “Finish.”

+ 22 hidden pages