Sound Blaster R3, A6U, Audigy 6 USB, SB1540 User guide

User’s Guide

Model No: SB1540

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of Sound Blaster®R3/Audigy 6USB(Sound Blaster R3/A6U)! This
high performance USB sound module incorporates the advanced Sound Core3D™ audio processor -- the
next generation multi-core sound and voice processor for accelerating advanced audio and voice
processing technologies. It is designed to work perfectly with your computer and mobile devices,
making your voice sound simply amazing while giving you a truly immersive listening experience!

Package Checklist

Your Sound Blaster R3/A6U package comes with the following components.

l The Sound Blaster R3/A6U device

l 1.5m Micro-USB 2.0 Cable

l 1.2m 4-Pole Analog Cable

l 2.4m Dynamic Microphone

l 2.4m 3.5mm Clip Microphone

l Guitar clip for Clip Microphone

Note:

The dynamic microphone, clip microphone and guitar clip are available for selected countries only.

Minimum System Requirements

l Intel

l Intel, AMD or 100% compatible motherboard

l Microsoft

l Mac

l 1GB RAM

l >600 MB of free hard disk space

l CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive for software installation

l Available USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port

®

Core™ 2 Duo or AMD®equivalent processor, 2.2 GHz or faster recommended

®

Windows®8.1 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 8 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit,

Windows Vista®32-bit or 64-bit (Service Pack 1 or higher)

®

OS X®10.6 or higher

Registering Your Product

Registering your product ensures you receive the most appropriate service and product support
available. You can register your product during installation or at www.creative.com/register. Please
note that your warranty rights are not dependent on registration.

More Help

For the latest news and products for the Sound Blaster, please visit www.soundblaster.com. The site
also includes information on making purchases, technical help and the latest software updates.

Introduction - 1 -

Using Creative Software AutoUpdate

Locating, downloading and installing updates for your Creative products is now simpler and faster with
the web-based Creative Software AutoUpdate system.

When you connect to Creative Software AutoUpdate via the Internet, the website will analyze your
computer system to determine your operating system, language and which Creative products are
connected to your system.

When this analysis is completed, you will then be given a list of only the most relevant software updates
for your connected products. The files can then be retrieved and installed.

To learn more about the Creative Software AutoUpdate, please visit www.soundblaster.com/support.

Note:

First-time users of Creative Software AutoUpdate may be prompted to authorize the download of a
browser component required for system analysis. Check to ensure that this content is signed by
Creative Labs, Inc., then click the Yes button.

Please ensure that all your Creative products are connected and installed on the same computer
running Creative Software AutoUpdate.

Introduction - 2 -

About Your Hardware

Refer to the Quick Start leaflet for instructions on setting up your audio device. To learn more about
your product, refer to the section below.

Your Audio Device

Your USB audio device has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of
devices.

Front

Back

Jack or
Connector

1 Mic-in 1 jack Connects to a microphone using a 3.50 mm (1/8-inch)

2 Mic-in 2 jack Connects to a microphone using a 3.50 mm (1/8-inch)

3 Headphone

jack

4 Line-out jack Connects to the Left and Right inputs on powered analog

5 Line-in jack Connects to line-level sources (for example, MP3 players).

6 Mobile-in jack Connects to a 4-pole analog jack of a mobile device.

7 USB port Connects to a computer with a USB cable, or to a 5V 1A

Description

mono jack.

mono jack.

Connects to stereo headphones using a 3.50 mm (1/8­inch) stereo jack. Speaker output from the line-out jack is
muted when the headphone jack is connected.

speakers or an A/V receiver.

DC power adaptor for standalone operation.

About Your Hardware - 3 -

Note:

When devices are connected to mobile-in and line-in simultaneously, the device connected to the
mobile-in has higher priority.

Using display indicators and control dials

Your USB audio device has the following indicators and control dials to adjust and monitor operational
status.

Control or Button Description

1 Reverb amount

knob

2 Microphone mute

button/indicator

3 Power/playback

volume indicator

4 Playback volume/

mute knob

Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the reverb effect.

Push to mute/unmute microphone volume.
Lights up in red when microphone is muted.

Lights up in red when USB power is detected.
Pulse in red when volume is muted.
Blinks rapidly in red 3 times when playback volume
knob is at maximum volume.

Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the playback volume. Push down to
mute/unmute.

About Your Hardware - 4 -

Setting Up Your Audio Device

Connecting to a Computer

Connect your USB audio device to a computer using the Micro-USB to USB cable provided. The power
indicator will light up in red once the device is properly connected.

Plug in your headphones or speakers to the device and experience the power of Sound Blaster with all
your audio and music played from your computer.

Setting the default audio device

For Windows:

After the Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel is installed, Sound Blaster R3/A6U will be automatically
set as the default audio device. Alternatively, you can set the desired default audio device from the
Windows Sound Control Panel.

For Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences and click Sound.

2. Select Sound Blaster R3/A6U in both the Output and Input tabs.

Setting Up Your Audio Device - 5 -

Connecting to a Mobile Device

Enjoy your favourite music from your mobile devices including iPhones, Android phones and tablets, by
connecting your mobile device to the mobile-in jack of the Sound Blaster R3/A6U using the 4-pole
analog cable provided.

To power up the USB audio device, connect an external power source, e.g. 5V 1A USBpower adapter to
the USBport.

Connect your microphone(s) and headphones/speakers to the audio device. You can now play music
directly from your mobile device and sing along to your favourite songs! For more information, refer to
Using Your Audio Device.

Setting Up Your Audio Device - 6 -

Using Your Audio Device

Your audio device works seamlessly with many external devices. To connect these peripherals, refer to
their relevant sections below:

l Playing Music

l Singing Karaoke

l Creating/Recording Music

l Broadcasting/Podcasting

Playing Music

Experience enhanced audio from your computer or mobile device, by connecting analog stereo speakers
to the line-out jack or by connecting stereo headphones to the headphone jack of the Sound Blaster
R3/A6U.

Playing Music from a Computer

OR

Using Your Audio Device - 7 -

Component

1 MicroUSB-to-USB cable

2 USBport

3 Analog speaker cable

4 Analog stereo speakers

5 Headphones

Playing Music from a Mobile Device

OR

Using Your Audio Device - 8 -

Component

1 4-pole analog cable

2 Headset jack

3 Analog speaker cable

4 Analog stereo speakers

5 Headphones

Using Your Audio Device - 9 -

Singing Karaoke

To play karaoke music from external sources like computer or mobile device, connect the audio source
to the USB port or mobile-in jack of the audio device. Then, connect your microphone(s) to the mic-in
jack(s) and headphones to and headphone jack respectively.

Singing Karaoke on a Computer

Component

1 MicroUSB-to-USB cable

2 USBport

3 Analog speaker cable

4 Analog stereo speakers

5 Microphone(s)

6 Headphones

Note:

When headphones and a line-out device are connected simultaneously, audio will output to the
headphones.

Using Your Audio Device - 10 -

Singing Karaoke on a Mobile Device

Component

1 4-pole analog cable

2 Headset jack

3 Analog speaker cable

4 Analog stereo speakers

5 Microphone(s)

6 Headphones

Note:

When headphones and a line-out device are connected simultaneously, audio will output to the
headphones.

Using Your Audio Device - 11 -

Creating/Recording Music

Put together your own compositions consisting of audio inputs from a guitar and/or a microphone.
Attach a clip microphone to your guitar and connect it to the mic-in jack. Refer to Attaching a Clip

Microphone to a Guitar.

Note:

The Sound Blaster R3/A6Udoes not support Hi-Z output from a guitar. Do not attempt to connect the
Hi-Z output directly to the mic-in jack on the USB audio device.

To record audio from the microphones, ensure that you connect your computer, mobile device, or even
external recording devices to the USB port or mobile-in/line-in jack.

For more information on configuring the software for live instruments recording, refer to Using the

Creative Software Suite - Microphone Settings.

Recording Music on a Computer

Component

1 MicroUSB-to-USB cable

2 USBport

3 Microphone

4 Clip Microphone

5 Guitar

6 Headphones

Using Your Audio Device - 12 -

Recording Music on a Mobile Device

Component

1 4-pole analog cable

2 Headset jack

3 Microphone

4 Clip Microphone

5 Guitar

6 Headphones

Attaching a Clip Microphone to a Guitar

1. Mount the clip microphone on the rim of the guitar's sound hole.

2. Adjust the gooseneck microphone to your preferred position.

3. To detach, gently push the clip out of the guitar's sound hole.

Using Your Audio Device - 13 -

Broadcasting/Podcasting

To do online streaming or broadcasting, connect your computer or mobile device to the USBport or
mobile-in jack. You can also connect an external device like DAT (Digital Audio Tape) player or CD
player to the line-in jack for music input.

Broadcasting with a Computer

Component

1 Microphone

2 USBport

3 MicroUSB-to-USB cable

4 External recording devices (DAT players, CDplayers, etc.)

Using Your Audio Device - 14 -

Broadcasting with a Mobile Device

Component

1 Microphone

2 Headset jack

3 4-pole analog cable

4 External recording devices (DAT players, CDplayers, etc.)

Using Your Audio Device - 15 -

Installing and Uninstalling Software

To take full advantage of your Sound Blaster R3/A6U audio device, you need to install device drivers
and applications. At times, you may also need to uninstall some or all of the device drivers and
applications to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications. To
learn how to do so in all supported Windows and Mac operating systems, consult the following sections:

l Installing Drivers and Applications

l Uninstalling Drivers and Applications

Installing Drivers and Applications

Ensure that your audio device is connected before proceeding. For instructions on
installing your audio device, consult your Quick Start leaflet.

After you have connected your audio device, turn on your computer. Windows automatically detects
your audio device and searches for device drivers.

For Windows Vista / Windows 7

1. Insert the Installation CD into your CDor DVD drive.
Your CDshould start automatically. If it does not, follow the steps below:

i. Click Start >Computer.

ii. Right-click the CD or DVD drive icon, and then click Open AutoPlay.

2. To complete the installation, follow the instructions on the screen.

3. When prompted, restart your computer.

For Windows 8 / Windows 8.1

1. Insert the Installation CD into your CD or DVD drive.

2. In a short while, a drive icon will be displayed. Click on the icon, and then choose Run setup.exe.
If you do not see the drive icon, follow the steps below:

i. For Windows 8, right-click on the background of the Windows Start screen, and then click All

apps.
For Windows 8.1, go to the Windows Start screen to see a list of all the applications installed on
your PC.

ii. Click Computer / This PC.

iii. Right-click the CD or DVD drive icon, and then click Open AutoPlay.

3. To complete the installation, follow the instructions on the screen.

4. When prompted, restart your computer.

For Mac OS

1. Using your web browser, visit www.creative.com/support and locate the software package for the
Mac OS.

2. Download this package into your local hard disk.

3. Double-click the downloaded file to uncompress it.

4. Double-click the uncompressed DMG file.

5. Double-click the Install icon and follow the subsequent on-screen instructions to complete the
installation.

Installing and Uninstalling Software - 16 -

Uninstalling Drivers and Applications

In the event that an uninstallation is required (such as for upgrades), please follow the following
procedure.

Before you begin, close all running audio applications. Applications that are still running
during uninstallation will not be removed.

For Windows OS

1. From the Control Panel, click Uninstall a program.

2. Select your audio device's entry.

3. Click the Uninstall button or option.
If the User Account Control dialog box appears, click the Continue button.

4. Click the Yes button.

5. When prompted, restart your computer.

For Mac OS

1. Click Applications > Creative > Creative Uninstaller

2. Select the Creative product to be uninstalled.

3. Click the Uninstall button.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Installing and Uninstalling Software - 17 -

Using the Creative Software Suite

The following software is designed for you to access the basic as well as the advanced features of your
audio device. We recommended that you familiarize yourself with their functions in order to make full
use of the rich features of your audio device.

Software Applications

l Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel

l Creative Smart Recorder

l Creative WaveStudio

l Creative Software AutoUpdate

l Creative System Information

l Creative Product Registration

Various other bonus Creative applications are also compatible for your audio device. Visit

www.creative.com/support and navigate to the relevant product page to view and download these

applications.

Note

l The applications included with your audio device may differ from those described here.

l Sound Blaster R3/A6UControl Panel for Mac is available via web download.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 18 -

Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel

Adjusting Your Master Volume Settings

Drag the master volume slider to adjust the volume level. You can mute/unmute the volume by clicking
the speaker icon.

Configuring Your Software Settings

Click each feature to access its settings page. More information on each feature can be found in their
respective sections in this manual.

Configuring Your General Settings

Click and configure various options from the list that displays including:

l Select whether the Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel is activated when Windows starts.

l Restore default settings.

l Select the audio playback device.

l Select the supported software languages available for your system.

l General information regarding your Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel software.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 19 -

Using the Creative Software Suite - 20 -

Microphone Settings

You can now easily toggle between four different modes for microphone settings: Karaoke, Chat,
Broadcast or Recording. Switch between the different modes at any time and it will take effect

immediately.

Karaoke Mode

Karaoke mode allows you to perform online singing with a third party karaoke application. In this mode,
microphone settings are pre-tuned to support karaoke singing. For example, Microphone Monitoring will
always be turned on.

Chat Mode

Certain karaoke applications provide chat function. Simply switch to Chat mode after singing by clicking
on the Chat tab, and speak to the host in the karaoke room. FX will be turned off by default, and
Microphone Monitoring will always be turned off.

Switch back to Karaoke mode to start a new singing session.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 21 -

Broadcast Mode

Switch to Broadcast mode to perform online broadcasting with a third party broadcasting application.
Microphone Monitoring will always be turned off.

Recording Mode

Switch to Recording mode to make offline recordings with a recording application. Microphone
Monitoring and FX will be turned off by default. Users may record a singing session by using the bundled
microphones.

In Recording mode, different microphone sources can be chosen from MIC 2.

l Select Vocal Mic for voice recordings using the microphone.

l Select Instrument Mic for recording live instruments in high resolution (24-bit 48kHz).

Note:

When Instrument Mic is being selected, no microphone effect will be applied to the MIC 2 input. Both
line-in jack and mobile-in jack will be disabled.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 22 -

SBX Pro Studio Settings

1. SBXPro Studio enhancements
Select to turn on or turn off each enhancement. You can hover your mouse cursor over each
enhancement to display a brief explanation.

2. Enhancement Level sliders
Adjust the amount of enhancement to apply.

3. Audio test controls
Play/Pause or Stop the demo video.

Enhancing Your Listening Experience

You can adjust the amount to apply for each enhancement by dragging its slider left to decrease or right

to increase. To test the effects of the audio enhancements, click and listen to the demo video.

l SBXPro Studio Crystalizer restores the dynamic range that is lost when iTunes and MP3 music

gets compressed. This makes the music sound as good as the artist originally intended, and adds an
enhanced level of realism for movies and games.

l SBX Pro Studio Bass fills in the low frequency tones and gives the extra impact for a better

entertainment experience. It dramatically improves the sound experience without a subwoofer.

l SBXPro Studio Smart Volume addresses the problem of abrupt volume level changes during

playback and between songs by automatically and continously measuring volume, and intelligently
applying gain and attenuation to compensate for those changes.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 23 -

Speakers/Headphones Settings

1. Speakers / Headphones Configuration
Displays the audio device that is currently connected to your computer.

2. Testing your audio playback

Click to hear a sample audio clip being played back through your setup.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 24 -

Mixer Settings

1. Volume sliders
Adjust the playback and recording volume for your various inputs and outputs.

2. Mixer Settings

Click the icon to mute/unmute the input/output. You can click the icon to adjust the settings
for your input/output.

3. To listen to the audio from the source connected to the line-in jack:

For Windows systems,
Go to the Mixer page of the Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel. From the Instrument Mic/Line-

In option under REC, click , and enable Listen to this device.

For Macsystems,

1)Go to System Preferences and click Sound.

2)Click the Input tab and select Instrument Mic/Line-In as the default recording device.

3) Go to the Mixer page of the Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel. From the Instrument

Mic/Line-In option under REC, click , and enable Listen to this device.

Note:

For the audio source playback, ensure that your Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel is running.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 25 -

Equalizer Settings

1. EQ presets
Select an equalizer preset to apply to your audio.

2. EQ sliders
Adjust the equalizer settings.

Customizing Your EQSettings

Select the EQ checkbox to enable this feature, then click the EQ drop-down arrow and select a preset
from the list.

Selecting a preset will move the EQ sliders to the appropriate values. You can then adjust the equalizer

setting by dragging the sliders up or down to the desired level. Click to save the new
configuration as a new preset.

Note:

The list of default EQ presets cannot be deleted or overwritten.

Using the Creative Software Suite - 26 -

General Specifications

Connectivity

Inputs

l Two 3.5 mm (1/8") jacks for mono analog microphone input

l One 3.5 mm (1/8") jack for stereo line-level analog input

l One 3.5 mm (1/8") jack for 4-pole analog cable

l USBInput:5V 500mA

Outputs

l One 3.5 mm (1/8") jack for stereo analog headphones

l One 3.5 mm (1/8") jack for stereo line-level analog output

Interfaces

l One Micro-USB port

l One microphone mute button/indicator

Others

l One playback volume/mute knob

l One reverb amount knob

General Specifications - 27 -

Troubleshooting and Support

This section provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use. This
includes:

l Problems with Sound

l Problems with Simultaneous Playback/Recording

l Tips to Improve Your Singing/Recording Quality

Problems with Sound

No sound from the headphones.

Check the following:

l The headphones are connected to the headphone jack.

l In the Speakers/Headphones selection of Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel, the Headphones

option is selected.

No audio output when playing digital files such as WAV, MIDI files or AVI clips.

Check the following:

l The speakers' volume control knob is set at mid-range. Adjust the volume mixer settings in Sound

Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel, if necessary.

l The powered speakers or external amplifier are connected to the Line Out jack.

l The Speakers/Headphones selection in Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel corresponds to your

speaker or headphone configuration.

No audio from the instrument microphone/line-in can be heard from the source con­nected to line-in or mic-in jack.

Do the following:

l In the Mixer selection of Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel, go to Instrument Mic/Line-In

option under REC, click , and enable Listen to this device.

No audio can be recorded from the source connected to line-in or mic-in jack.

Do the following:

i. Navigate to Windows Control Panel > Sound > Recording tab.

ii. Select Vocal Mic or Instrument Mic/Line-In as the default recording device.

iii. In the Mixer selection of Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel, unmute the Vocal Mic or Instru-

ment Mic/Line-In from REC option.

Problems with Simultaneous Playback/Recording

An error message appears when recording and playing back simultaneously.

This may occur due to data transfer limitations if your computer is using a USB 1.1 connection. It may
not be possible to play back, or simultaneously record and play back, content at the highest bit rate
and/or frequency supported (24-bit 48kHz). Select lower bit depth and sampling rates for reduced CPU
consumption and lower USB bandwidth requirements. Select lower settings if you encounter
performance problems or if you run out of USB bandwidth. Lower sampling and bit depth rates,
however, usually result in lower audio quality.

This should not be a problem if you are using a USB 2.0 connection.

Troubleshooting and Support - 28 -

Tips to Improve Your Singing/Recording Quality

The Sound Blaster R3/A6U Control Panel allows you to configure various audio settings to enhance your
karaoke singing/recording experience. You may toggle between the pre-configured microphone settings
or adjust the audio configurations, such as microphone input volume, microphone equalizer, pitch shift,
microphone boost, etc.

There are certain third party karaoke singing/recording applications which also have controls to let you
choose your preferred audio effects and quality. Try tuning the audio settings in the application too, until
you have found the perfect singing/recording quality you desired.

Additional Support

If you encounter any other issues or have any other enquiries about your Sound Blaster R3/A6U or any
other Creative products, please visit our comprehensive knowledge base at support.creative.com or

www.soundblaster.com for additional information.

Troubleshooting and Support - 29 -

License and Copyright

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 License Agreement is found in a separate folder on the Installation CD.

Copyright © 2013 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. Creative, the Creative logo, Sound
Blaster, the Sound Blaster logo, Audigy, SBX Pro Studio and the SBX logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Intel and Pentium
are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. AMD and AMD Athlon are trademarks of Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc. Microsoft, Windows Vista, Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Mac and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S.
and other countries. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. All
specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Use of this product is subject to a limited
hardware warranty. Actual contents may differ slightly from those pictured. The software included in
this packaging may not be used separately from the hardware. Before using the software, you must
agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the end user license agreement.

Version 1.0

November 2013

License and Copyright - 30 -