Creative Audigy 2 User's Guide

Introduction iiWhat is EAX ADVANCED HD?EAX ADVANCED HD brings a new level of performance, power, and flexibility to PC audio. Taking advantage of the

Introduction iiiPackage Contents The following items are included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 package:❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card❑ Joystick/MIDI

Introduction ivSB1394/FireWire applica-tions, games, DVD viewing and DVD-Audio❑ Genuine Intel Pentium II 350 MHz or AMD 450 MHz processor for SB1394/F

Introduction vDocument ConventionsThe following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual: The notepad icon indicates information that

1Installing HardwareThis chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 hardware.

Installing Hardware 1-1Installing HardwareWhat You NeedBefore you begin installation, be sure that you have these:In addition, you will also need an a

Installing Hardware 1-2Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 CardYour audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of de

Installing Hardware 1-3Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.Number Description1 SB1394/FireWire port (SB1394/FireWire)Connects to an IE

Installing Hardware 1-48 Telephone Answering Device connector (TAD)Provides a monaural connection from a standard voice modem, and transmits microphon

Installing Hardware 1-5Your Joystick/MIDI BracketThe Joystick/MIDI bracket* is used to attach a joystick or MIDI device:*Available with some models of

User’s GuideCreative Sound Blaster Audigy 2Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the

Installing Hardware 1-6Installation StepsStep 1: Prepare your computer1. Turn off your computer and all peripheral devices.2. Touch a metal plate on y

Installing Hardware 1-7Step 2: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card1. Align the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with the PCI slot and press the card ge

Installing Hardware 1-8Step 3: Install the Joystick/MIDI bracket1. If you are installing a joystick or MIDI device (optional), secure the Joystick/MID

Installing Hardware 1-9Step 4: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 cardFor analog CD audio output:connect an Analog CD audio cable (available sep

Installing Hardware 1-10Step 5: Connect to power outlet1. Replace the computer cover.2. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet, and turn on the

Installing Hardware 1-11Connecting Related PeripheralsSound Blaster Audigy 2 will give you endless hours of listening pleasure. Figure 1-7 shows you h

Installing Hardware 1-12Table 2: Description of Connectors and Devices.Number Description1 Digital Out jackConnects to digital speakers, for example,

Installing Hardware 1-13Connecting Speaker SystemsIf you have a 5.1 channel speaker system, you can upmix your stereo sources (such as CD Audio, MP3,

Installing Hardware 1-14Connecting External Consumer DevicesClick any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.You can use a 4-pole

Installing Hardware 1-15Table 3: Description of Connectors and Consumer Devices.Number Description1 Dolby Digital (AC-3) SPDIF In2 3.5 mm (mono)-to-RC

Important: This User Manual (On CD) has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. The following are instructions on how to make us

Installing Hardware 1-16Positioning Your SpeakersIf you are using six speakers, place them to form a circle around you (as in Figure 1-10) and angled

2Installing SoftwareThis chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2software.

Installing Software 2-1Installing SoftwareInstalling Drivers and ApplicationsYou need to install device drivers and applications prior to using your S

Installing Software 2-2Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase DemoTo feel the audio card’s awesome gaming, music reproduction and home studio capabil

Installing Software 2-3Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications For a cleaner installation, you may want to uninstall all the audio drivers and

Installing Software 2-48. Restart your computer when prompted.To uninstall a selected component in Creative MediaSource, do the following:1. Click Sta

Installing Software 2-5Using Creative Software AutoUpdateLocating, downloading and installing updates for your Creative products is now simpler and fa

Installing Software 2-6Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 3)Windows 2000 now provides better support for AC-3 SPDIF output (non-PCM through waveOut)

3Using Audigy 2 SoftwareFind out how the software accompanying your audio card can be used to control and customize the card’s features for best perfo

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-1Using Audigy 2 SoftwareCreative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ApplicationsThe following software is designed for you to access the

Contents

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-2DemosThree demo packages have been included to showcase the basic as well as the advanced features of your Sound Blaster Au

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-3Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suiteThis section walks you through the main suite of the Sound Blaster

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-4For more information and usage details on Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher, refer to its online Help.Creative MediaSource

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-5Finding and organizing songsCreative MediaSource Organizer searches your hard disk to compile a database of songs available

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-6Storing music on recordable CDIf you have a CD-writer, another way to reduce music storage on your computer’s hard disk is

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-7❑ Special Effects let you modify sounds with pre-programmed algorithms so that male voices can be turned into female voices

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-8Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playbackKaraoke fans and musicians may sometimes wish to slow a song down (or speed it u

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-9Creative MiniDisc CenterCreative MiniDisc Center allows you to play back songs on CDs or supported audio formats, and recor

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-10Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2Normally, to listen to a song on the Internet, you need to download the entire file onto y

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-11Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilitiesCreative Diagnostics Use Creative Diagnostics to quickly test your audio card’s Wa

ContentsIntroductionHigh Definition Digital Audio Entertainment... iWhat

AGeneral SpecificationsThis section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card and Joystick/MIDI bracket.

General Specifications A-1General SpecificationsThis section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card and Joystick/MIDI bracket

General Specifications A-2❑ 32-bit mixing of all digital sources within Audigy 2’s Digital Mixer❑ 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs

General Specifications A-3❑ Bass redirection: enhances bass output to subwoofer for small satellite speaker systems❑ Crossover bass frequency (10–200

General Specifications A-4• DIGITAL OUT: Front, Rear, Center and Subwoofer SPDIF digital outputs❑ Three line-level analog outputs via 3.5 mm minijacks

BTroubleshooting and FAQsThis section provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-1Troubleshooting and FAQsThis appendix provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use.P

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-2Problems with SoundThere is unexpected excessive environmental sound or effects when an audio file is played.The last sele

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-3To record an individual analog source:❑ In the Record panel of the Basic tab in Creative Surround Mixer, make sure the rec

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-4No audio output when playing audio CDs or DOS games that require a CD-ROM.To solve this problem:❑ Make sure the Analog Aud

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers ... 2-2Reinstalling all Audio Driv

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-5v. Double-click the DVD/CD-ROM drives icon.Your computer drives will appear.vi. Right-click the disk drive icon. A menu wi

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-6❑ In Windows: i. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.ii. Double-click the System icon.iii. Click the Device Man

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-7Insufficient SoundFont CacheThere is insufficient memory to load SoundFont banks.This may occur when a SoundFont-compatibl

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-84. Double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then select Creative Audigy 2 Gameport (Creative Game Port for Wind

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-9Problems with Multiple Audio DevicesThe other installed audio card is not working well.You may have an existing audio devi

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-10Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound BlasterPCI512 cardSound Blaster Live! or Sound Blaster PCI512 applicati

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-11Resolving I/O ConflictsConflicts between your audio card and another peripheral device may occur if your card and the oth

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-126. Locate and select D:\Program Files\Creative\PC- DVD Encore (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) and double-click th

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-133. Using Windows Explorer, locate the 1394 folder in the CD-ROM, and run the DVConnect 240.exe file. Follow the instructi

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-14Problems with Digital Audio DevicesIntermittent hissing or no sound is heard from my digital speakers.Make sure you selec

A General SpecificationsFeatures...

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-1511. When prompted to restart your computer, click the Ye s button. 12. Repeat steps 4-11 if you have other drives, for ex

Introduction

Introduction iIntroductionHigh Definition Digital Audio EntertainmentThank you for purchasing Sound Blaster™ Audigy 2™, the next generation Creative a