Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Creative Manuals
  4. Sound Card
  5. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX
  6. User manual

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX User Manual

Sound blaster
Hide thumbs Also See for Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

See also: User Manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX

Summary of Contents for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX

  • Page 2: How To Use This Manual

    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX 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.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module ....1-3 Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain..... 1-7 Using the control knobs............. 1-7 Using Creative Surround Mixer ........... 1-8 Using the Remote Control ..............1-8 Remote Control Functions ..............1-9 Installing Hardware Installation Steps................
  • Page 4 Updating Windows 98 SE ..............3-5 Installing Digital Video Update ........... 3-5 Using Audigy 2 Software Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications ........4-1 Demos ................... 4-2 Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo ......4-2 Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo......4-2 SoundFont Showcase..............
  • Page 5 Creative Surround Mixer ............4-10 Creative Speaker Settings ............4-10 Creative Speaker Calibrator ............4-10 Creative MiniDisc Center ............4-10 Creative SoundFont Bank Manager ..........4-11 Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2 ..........4-11 Creative Wave Studio ..............4-12 Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities ..........4-13 Creative Diagnostics ..............4-13 Creative Speaker Settings ............4-13...
  • Page 6 Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Digital Surround EX Decoding ..A-3 Creative MultiSpeaker Surround (CMSS)......A-3 SB1394/FireWire Compatibility ........... A-3 Connectivity ..................A-4 Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Card........A-4 Audio Outputs..............A-4 SB1394/FireWire .............. A-4 Interfaces ............... A-4 Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module....A-5 Inputs and outputs on front panel........
  • Page 7 Introduction...

  • Page 8: High-Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

    Introduction High-definition Thank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX, consisting of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX digital audio External I/O Module, and an IR remote control. It is the most complete affordable high-definition digital audio entertainment solution you can find on the market entertainment today.

  • Page 9: What Is Eax Advanced Hd

    What is EAX ® ADVANCED HD™ brings a new level of performance, power, and flexibility to PC audio. Taking advantage of the increased processing capabilities of the Sound ADVANCED Blaster Audigy 2 processor, EAX ADVANCED HD delivers a host of new features to achieve high definition audio for gaming and music enhancement.

  • Page 10: Package Contents

    ❑ Two AAA batteries for the IR remote control ❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation and Applications CD ❑ Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo CD ❑ Creative DVD-Audio Sampler Disc ❑ Quick Start Guide leaflet ❑ User manual (on CD) ❑...

  • Page 11: System Requirements

    System Requirements ® ❑ Genuine Intel Pentium II 350 MHz, AMD K6 450 MHz or faster processor Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ® ® for SB1394/FireWire applications or games Platinum eX hardware ❑ Intel, AMD or 100% compatible motherboard chipset ❑ Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows XP ❑...

  • Page 12: Internet Multimedia And Entertainment

    Getting More Refer to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo and the various online Help files for detailed information on Creative applications. The Sound Blaster Information Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo gives you an interactive introduction to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

  • Page 13: About Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum Ex Hardware

    About your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX hardware...

  • Page 14: What You Need

    About your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX hardware Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these: What You Need In addition, you will also need an available PCI slot and another adjacent available slot on your computer. AD_LINK cable Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Sound Blaster Audigy 2...
  • Page 15 Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide Your Sound variety of devices: Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Card Click any circled number in the diagram to see a description of the item. You need to connect the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card to the Sound Blaster...

  • Page 16: Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum Ex External I/O Module

    Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module has these jacks, Your Sound connectors and controls: Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module Click any circled number in the diagram to see a description of the item. Front View •...
  • Page 17 Table 1: The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card Number Description Joystick/MIDI connector Click here or on any Connects to the Joystick/MIDI bracket for gamepads, other input description to return to the and MIDI devices. diagram of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card.
  • Page 18 Controls the input level of a microphone signal. Master Volume/Mute control knob Controls the overall output volume. Push to mute the sound. CMSS Switch ® Turns the Creative MediaSource MultiSpeaker Surround feature on or off. About your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX hardware...
  • Page 19 Table 2: The Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module Number Description Infrared Receiver Click here or on any Lets you control your computer via the IR remote control. description to return to the diagram of the Audigy 2 Line In 3 (Aux In) jacks Platinum eX External I/O Connects to analog devices like VCRs, TVs and CD players.

  • Page 20: Adjusting Headphones Volume And Microphone Gain

    Adjusting You can adjust the headphones volume and microphone gain in two ways. Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain On the front panel of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module, Using the control knobs turn the respective control knob: ❑...

  • Page 21: Using Creative Surround Mixer

    1. Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Sound Blaster Audigy 2 -> Surround Mixer Surround Mixer. 2. On the Master Control panel of Creative Surround Mixer, make sure that there is no red “X” on the Speaker button under the Volume slider. Otherwise, click To install Creative Surround the Speaker button.

  • Page 22: Remote Control Functions

    Refer to Figure 1-4 and Figure 1-5 below for a description of your remote control’s Remote Control functions. Functions Number pad Used for the selection of tracks and menu items. To access a two-digit number track such as track 10, press the "1" button followed by the Play/Pause button "0"...
  • Page 23 Display button button Displays the Displays the current task status, Power button EAX- and the time and Displays the Shutdown Menu specific date on the OSD. OSD menu. Options button Displays options for current task. CMSS button Press to select CMSS mode. Return Close/Cancel button...

  • Page 24: Installing Hardware

    Installing Hardware This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX hardware.

  • Page 25: Installation Steps

    Installing Hardware Installation Steps Step 1: Prepare the 1. Place the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module near your computer. Sound Blaster 2. Locate the AD_LINK cable that links your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Audigy 2 Platinum External I/O Module to your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card.

  • Page 26: Step 2: Prepare Your Computer

    Step 2: Prepare your 1. Turn off your computer and all peripheral devices. computer 2. Touch a metal plate on your computer to ground metal bracket yourself and to discharge any static electricity, and then unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

  • Page 27: Step 3: Install The Audio Card

    Step 3: Install the 1. Align the audio card with the PCI slot and press the card gently but firmly into the slot as shown audio card in Figure 2-3. 2. Secure the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 with a screw. If the AD_LINK cable is too long, coil it gently to prevent damage to the delicate wires...

  • Page 28: Step 5: Install The Cables

    Step 5: Install the 1. Using the supplied AD_LINK cable, connect To system the AD_LINK 1 connector first. Press the side power cables Power supply unit springs of the connector and push it in until it connector clicks firmly into place on both the card and the external I/O module.

  • Page 29: Step 7: Set Up The Cd-Rom Drive

    Step 7: Set up the To listen to music CDs through your CD-ROM/ DVD-ROM drive, you must enable Digital CD audio CD-ROM drive for the drive. (Enabled by default in Windows XP). 1. In Windows 2000/XP or Windows Me, click Start->Settings->Control Panel->System.

  • Page 30: Connecting Related Peripherals

    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX will give you endless hours of listening Connecting pleasure. Figure 2-7 shows you how to connect related peripherals to your Sound Related Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX to optimize your enjoyment. Peripherals Click any circled number in the diagram to see a description of the item.
  • Page 31 Connecting Related Peripherals (cont’d) Other IEEE1394 devices you can connect: Click any circled number in the diagram to see a description of IEEE1394 hard • the item. disk IEEE CD-RW • drive SB 1394 NOMAD • Jukebox IEEE-compliant • 1394 devices Dolby Digital (AC-3) Amplifier SPDIF In Figure 2-8: Connecting peripherals to the external I/O module.
  • Page 32 SPDIF Digital Out mini jack Outputs up to 6.1-channels or compressed AC-3 SPDIF output for connection to digital surround decoders and amplifiers or digital speaker systems like the Creative Inspire 5.1 speaker system. Installing Hardware...
  • Page 33 MIDI In and MIDI Out jacks. Mini DIN SPDIF connector Found on Creative digital speaker systems like the Creative Inspire 5.1™, which can be connected to the external I/O module’s SPDIF Digital Output via a Mini DIN-to-mini plug convertor.

  • Page 34: Connecting External Speakers

    If you have a 5.1 or 6.1 channel speaker system, you can “upmix” your stereo Connecting sources (such as MP3, WMA, MIDI and Wave) to 6.1 channels by using the Creative External MultiSpeaker Surround (CMSS) technology. To upmix, you need to enable the CMSS feature in EAX Console.

  • Page 35: Positioning Your Speakers

    If you are using four to six Speaker notation Positioning Your FL :Front Left speakers, place them to form a CS :Center Speakers circle around you (Figure 2-10), FR :Front Right RC :Rear Center and the speakers angled toward RS :Right Surround you.

  • Page 36: Installing Software

    Installing Software This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX software.

  • Page 37: Installing Drivers And Applications

    Installing Software You need to install device drivers and applications prior to using Sound Blaster Installing Drivers Audigy 2 Platinum eX. To install these drivers and the selected software and Applications applications, use the following instructions. The instructions are applicable to all supported Windows operating systems.

  • Page 38: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

    1. Insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo CD into your CD-ROM Sound Blaster drive. Audigy 2 Feature If the drive supports Windows AutoPlay mode, the CD starts running automatically. If not, you need to enable your CD-ROM drive’s auto-insert Showcase Demo notification feature.

  • Page 39: Uninstalling All Audio Drivers And Applications

    Next button. 6. Click the Yes button. 7. Restart your computer when prompted. To uninstall Creative MediaSource and all its components, do the following: 1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

  • Page 40: Installing/Uninstalling Selected Audio Drivers And Applications

    Applications CD into your CD-ROM, and click the OK button. Restart your computer when prompted. To uninstall a selected component in Creative MediaSource, do the following: 1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

  • Page 41: Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2)

    8. Restart your computer when prompted. Windows 2000 now provides better support for AC-3 SPDIF output (non-PCM Updating through WaveOut) for software DVD viewing. Click the web site link below to Windows 2000 download the Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 to enjoy this support and to fix other issues in the Windows 2000 OS.

  • Page 42: Using Audigy 2 Software

    Using Audigy 2 Software Find out how the software accompanying your audio card can be used to control and customize the card for best performance.

  • Page 43: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications

    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX’s rich features. Applications Demos: Providing an overview of Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s features ❑ Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo ❑ Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo ❑ SoundFont Showcase The applications included with...

  • Page 44: Demos

    Three demo packages have been included to showcase the basic as well as the Demos advanced features of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX hardware. We recommend that you play them at least once in order to have a good overview of your card’s features.

  • Page 45: Soundfont Showcase

    SoundFont SoundFont Showcase contains a wide and comprehensive range of downloadable SoundFont demos from companies like Sonic Implants and Voice Crystal. You can Showcase also learn how to create and manage your own SoundFont banks in here. For more information and usage details on SoundFont Showcase, refer to its online Help.

  • Page 46: Introduction To The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Software Suite

    Creative MediaSource Go! The Creative MediaSource Go! button launches Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher. Creative MediaSource Go! floats on your desktop as a small profile bar. Clicking a button on the bar causes it to expand horizontally into a shortcut bar. Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher contains icons that launch the various MediaSource modules for controlling Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX.

  • Page 47: Creative Mediasource Player

    ❑ use the built-in Creative MediaSource Recorder to record audio (see below). Use Creative MediaSource Recorder to record at up to 24-bit/96 kHz from any audio “What-You-Hear” sources processed by the audio card. A multichannel What-You-Hear recording multichannel recording mode lets you capture audio directly from the audio card’s 6.1-channel analog...

  • Page 48: Creative Mediasource Organizer

    Creative Managing a huge collection of audio CDs and MP3 files can be a headache. With Creative MediaSource Organizer, you can find any recording easily, no matter where MediaSource it is stored on your hard disk or external storage devices. The following is a list of tasks you can perform with Creative MediaSource Organizer.

  • Page 49: Extracting And Converting Songs

    CDs into smaller 4 to 5 MB MP3 files. Creative MediaSource Organizer’s built-in Rip Now module lets you easily extract tracks from audio CDs, then convert them to MP3 and WMA formats at high resolution bit rates of 320 Kbps and 160 Kbps, respectively.

  • Page 50: Creative Eax Console

    Creative EAX EAX Console allows you to configure the Audigy 2 processor's effects engine. EAX ADVANCED HD promises to deliver sounds that are so life-like, you can almost Console see them! It is the computer industry's first system to recreate and deliver real- world, interactive audio experiences in games, music, and other audio applications.

  • Page 51: Cmss 3D: Simulating Surround Sound

    With the Time Scaling feature, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 users can maintain the pitch of a song while varying the playback speed. For more information and usage details on EAX Console, refer to the Creative EAX Console online Help.

  • Page 52: Creative Surround Mixer

    Creative Surround Use Creative Surround Mixer to select the device you wish to listen to or record from. It operates in two possible modes. Click the Basic Mode or Advanced Mode button Mixer to switch between the two modes: In Basic mode, you can: ❑...

  • Page 53: Creative Soundfont Bank Manager

    ❑ insert a preset period of silence automatically between each track ❑ play back your personal album and record it to your MD recorder For more information and usage details on Creative MiniDisc Center, refer to its online Help.

  • Page 54: Creative Wave Studio

    You can also use ASR2 to listen to selected radio stations live by clicking the blue Play button. For more information and usage details on Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2, refer to its online Help.

  • Page 55: Diagnostic And Troubleshooting Utilities

    Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities Creative Diagnostics Use Creative Diagnostics to quickly test your audio card’s Wave, MIDI or CD Audio playback capability, recording function and speaker output. For more information and usage details on Creative Diagnostics, refer to its online Help.

  • Page 56: A General Specifications

    General Specifications Technical details of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card and Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module.

  • Page 57: Features

    General Specifications Technical details of Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card and your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module. Features ❑ PCI Specification Version 2.1 compliant PCI Bus Mastering ❑ Bus mastering reduces latency and speeds up system performance ❑...

  • Page 58: Professional Digital Audio Processing

    ❑ 16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz, including ASIO2 support at up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. ❑ Supports Sony/Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) format of up to 24-bit/96 kHz Professional Digital quality Audio Processing...

  • Page 59: Thx Certification

    ❑ Crossover bass frequency (10-200 Hz): adjustable to standalone subwoofer units for desired bass level ❑ Adjustable Center, Rear Center and LFE level control ❑ Multispeaker technology Creative MultiSpeaker ❑ Upmixes mono or stereo sources to 6.1 channels Surround (CMSS) ❑ Professional-quality panning and mixing algorithm ❑...

  • Page 60: Connectivity

    Connectivity Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX Card ❑ 2 x line-level analog outputs via stereo jacks on rear bracket: Front and Rear Audio Outputs Line-Outs 1 and 2 ❑ Stereo headphone (32-ohm load) support on Line Out 1 ❑ 1 x line-level three channel analog output via 4-pole 3.5 mm minijack on rear bracket: Front Center, Rear Center and Subwoofer channel ❑...

  • Page 61: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum Ex External I/O Module

    Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX External I/O Module ❑ One headphone output with auto detection via ¼” stereo jack with volume control Inputs and outputs on ❑ One shared line-level analog Line/Microphone input (Line-In 1/Mic-In) via ¼” front panel stereo jack.

  • Page 62: B Troubleshooting And Faqs

    Troubleshooting and FAQs This section provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use.

  • Page 63: Problems Installing Software

    Troubleshooting and FAQs This appendix provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use. The installation does not start automatically after the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Problems Installation and Applications CD is inserted. Installing The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled. Software To start the installation program through the My Computer shortcut menu: 1.

  • Page 64: Problems With Sound

    ❑ In the Speaker Selection tab of Creative Speaker Settings, the Headphones option is selected in the Speaker/Headphone Selection box. ❑ In the Basic tab of Creative Surround Mixer, the recording source selected is “What U Hear”. Individual analog recording sources are not displayed in Creative Surround Mixer.
  • Page 65 Creative Surround Mixer.” on page B-2. To record an individual analog source: ❑ In the Record panel of the Basic tab in Creative Surround Mixer, make sure the recording source selected is Analog Mix (Line/CD/Aux/PC). ❑ In the Source panel, mute the analog sources that you do not want to record —...
  • Page 66 ❑ There is no hardware conflict between the card and a peripheral device. See “Resolving I/O Conflicts” on page B-11. ❑ The Speaker selection in Creative Speaker Settings corresponds to your speaker or headphone configuration. No audio output when playing audio CDs or DOS games that require a CD-ROM.
  • Page 67 Windows Volume Control application) is at the opposite end compared to the position to which you have panned the source in the Basic tab of Creative Surround Mixer. For example, the CD Audio balance in Windows Volume Control is on the left but in Creative Surround Mixer you have panned the CD Audio to the right.

  • Page 68: Problems With File Transfers On Some Via Chipset Motherboards

    After you install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum eX card on a VIA chipset Problems with motherboard, you may see one of the following: File Transfers on Some VIA When transferring large amounts of data, the computer stops responding (‘hangs’) or restarts itself, OR Chipset Files transferred from another drive are incomplete or corrupted.

  • Page 69: Insufficient Soundfont Cache

    *Content in these web sites is controlled by other companies. Creative bears no responsibility for information or downloads obtained from them. This information is provided only as a convenience to you. There is insufficient memory to load SoundFont banks. Insufficient...

  • Page 70: Problems With The Joystick

    2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the System icon. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. 4. Double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then select Creative Audigy 2 Gameport (Creative Game Port for Windows 2000).

  • Page 71: Problems With Multiple Audio Devices

    To solve this problem: Increase your system’s 8 bit I/O recovery time of the BIOS setting, usually under the Chipset Feature Settings section. Or, if available, you may adjust the AT Bus speed to a slower clock. If the problem persists, try a different joystick. The other installed audio card is not working well.

  • Page 72: Problems With Sound Blaster Live! Series Or Sound Blaster Pci512 Card

    2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the System icon. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. 4. Double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then select Creative Sound Blaster Live! Series or Creative Sound Blaster PCI512.

  • Page 73: Resolving I/O Conflicts

    7. Click OK to restart Windows and for the change to take effect. When the Sound Blaster Live! series is disabled, the entry in Device Manager has a red cross. Conflicts between your audio card and another peripheral device may occur if your Resolving I/O card and the other device are set to use the same I/O address.

  • Page 74: Problems With Encore Dvd Player

    1. In the Windows system tray, right-click the Disc Detector icon, and then click Player Properties. 2. On the General tabbed page of the Creative Disc Detector dialog box, make sure that the Enable Disc Detector check box is selected. 3. Click the Players tab.

  • Page 75: Problems With Dv Driver For Windows 98 Se/2000/Me/Xp

    The DV camcorder is not working properly. Problems with The MSDV camcorder driver may be the latest version (v4.10.2226 or later). DV driver for To solve this problem: Windows 98 SE/ 1. Visit the http://www.microsoft.com and download the Digital Video update 2000/Me/XP (dx80bda.exe) for the DirectX 8.0 files.

  • Page 76: Problems In Xp

    You may see the message when you install hardware drivers from companies other than Creative. If you do, you may choose to click the Continue Anyway button. Device drivers not signed by Microsoft may be used in Windows XP, and need not impair or destabilize your computer.

  • Page 77: Problems With Digital Audio Devices

    Intermittent hissing or no sound is heard from my digital speakers. Problems with Make sure you select the sampling rate of the PCM SPDIF output of your Digital Out Digital Audio connector to match the requirements of the receiving device. You may need to select Devices a lower digital output sampling rate.
  • Page 78 5. Double-click the ATA/ATAPI IDE Controllers icon. Your IDE channels will appear. 6. Right-click the Primary IDE Channel icon. 7. Click Properties. 8. In the Properties dialog box, click the Advanced Settings tab. 9. Click the DMA if available check box to select it. 10.

Table of Contents