Creative Audigy 2 User Manual

Introduction ixIntroductionHigh Definition Digital Audio EntertainmentThank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy 2, the next generation Creative au

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

Introduction xiPackage ContentsThe following items are included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 package:❑Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card❑Joystick/MIDI bra

Introduction xiiSB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing❑ Genuine Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or AMD 700 MHz processor for SB1394 applications or games

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

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 Description1SB1394 port (SB1394)Connects to an IEEE1394 compatible e

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

How to use this manualCreative Sound Blaster Audigy 2Important: This User Manual (On CD) has been designed to provide you with complete product knowle

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

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 Description1Digital Out jackConnects to digital speakers, for example, C

Installing Hardware 1-138Analog CD audio cable* (left) and Digital CD audio cable** (right)9CD-ROM/DVD-ROM driveTable 2: Description of Connectors and

Installing Hardware 1-14Connecting Speaker SystemsIf you have a 5.1 channel speaker system, you can upmix your stereo sources (such as CD Audio, MP3,

Contents

Installing Hardware 1-15Connecting External Consumer DevicesClick any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.For discrete 7-chann

Installing Hardware 1-16Table 3: Description of Connectors and Consumer Devices.Number Description1Dolby Digital (AC-3) SPDIF In23.5 mm (mono)-to-RCA

Installing Hardware 1-17Positioning 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 Demo1. Insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo CD into your CD-ROM driv

Installing Software 2-37. Restart your computer when prompted.You can now check the computer to see if the reinstalled software works properly. If not

Installing Software 2-4You may now install existing or updated Sound Blaster Audigy 2 device drivers or applications. For more information, see “Insta

Installing Software 2-55. In the InstallShield Wizard dialog box, click the Custom Uninstallation button, and then click the Next button. 6. Click the

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

iiiContentsIntroductionHigh Definition Digital Audio Entertainment...ixWhat is EAX ADVANCED HD? ...

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

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 3-3SoundFont ShowcaseSoundFont Showcase contains a wide and comprehensive range of downloadable SoundFont demos from companies

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-4Creative MediaSource Go! LauncherJust like the Start button in Windows, Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher provides a single

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-5For extra convenience, you can switch between Creative MediaSource Organizer and Creative MediaSource Player with just a cl

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-6and external devices like the NOMAD Jukebox and NOMAD MP3 players. Upon recognition, the content in the media will automati

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-7Creative EAX ConsoleEAX Console allows you to configure the Audigy 2 processor's effects engine.EAX ADVANCED HD promis

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-8turned into a concert hall or jazz club. EAX becomes more effective as the number of speakers connected is increased. It su

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-9Creative Surround MixerUse Creative Surround Mixer to select the device you wish to listen to or record from. It operates i

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-10❑create an album of your favorite songs, each of which may be in a different audio format❑insert a preset period of silenc

ivSound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo... 2-2Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers ... 2-2

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-11Thus, the song starts to play as soon as a portion of its data stream has arrived at your audio card. The downside of stre

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-12Creative Speaker SettingsThis is the main application to use for managing your speakers and troubleshooting problems relat

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 a

General Specifications A-3Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoding❑Decodes Dolby Digital Surround EX to 6.1 or 5.1 channels or pass-through compressed SPDIF bits

General Specifications A-4❑CD_SPDIF digital input via 2-pin Molex connector on cardAudio Outputs❑DIGITAL OUT via 4-pole 3.5 mm minijack on rear bracke

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

vCreative Surround Mixer ... 3-9Creative Speaker Settings ... 3-

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-3Individual analog recording sources cannot be selected in Creative Surround Mixer.Five analog recording sources are combin

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-4❑The powered speakers or external amplifier are connected to the card’s Line Out or Rear Out jack.❑There is no hardware co

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-5viii.Click the OK button.For Windows 2000 and Windows XPi. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.ii. In the Contr

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-6Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset MotherboardsAfter you install the Audigy 2 card on a VIA chipset motherbo

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-7• obtaining the most current BIOS for your motherboard from the manufacturer’s web site*.*Content in these web sites is co

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-8Problems with JoystickThe joystick port is not working.The audio card’s Joystick/MIDI connector may be conflicting with th

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-9To solve this problem:Increase your system’s 8 bit I/O recovery time of the BIOS setting, usually under the Chipset Featur

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-10The onboard audio chipset is not working well.To disable an onboard audio chipset, do the following:1. Restart your syste

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-11• Clear the check box to disable it.If you have a Disable In This Hardware Profile check box:• Make sure that the check b

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-127. Restart your system to allow Windows 98 SE/Me to reassign resources to your audio card and/or the conflicting device.P

viAppendixesA General SpecificationsFeatures ... A-1PCI Bus Mastering .

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-13Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/2000/Me/XPThe DV camcorder is not working properly.The MSDV camcorder driver ma

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-14Problems in Windows XPA Hardware Installation error message appears on a Windows XP operating system when non-Creative ap

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-15Problems with Digital Audio DevicesIntermittent hissing or no sound is heard from my digital speakers.Make sure you selec

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-1611.When prompted to restart your computer, click the Yes button. 12.Repeat steps 4-11 if you have other drives, for examp

viiProblems in Windows XP ..... B-14Problems with Digital Audio Devices ...

Introduction