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such an option, select the ASTRO USB Chat Cable as your audio device.
Step 1 - Connect the Main (Game) Audio
As it does for console games, the MixAmp 5.8 will give any connected PC the benefits of Dolby® Surround and high-
quality amplification without using processor cycles or internal hardware.
TOSink Optical Digital - Connect to the MixAmp 5.8 Tx‟s rear OPT. IN input. Many PC motherboards and sound cards
come standard with an TOSlink optical digital output. You may need to adjust your PC‟s Audio Properties, and enable
Digital output (with XP, this is usually a check box). Consult your motherboard or soundcard user manual for further
information.
Important: If you connect to an analog 2-channel output on your PC motherboard or soundcard, you will need to adjust
the PC‟s volume control in addition to the MixAmp‟s MASTER VOLUME control. Start out with the PC‟s volume control at
least halfway up.
You may get an unacceptable amount of hum and background noise if your PC is at or near 100% volume, depending on
the quality of your PC‟s audio. Lowering the PC‟s volume slider slightly and raising the MixAmp‟s main VOLUME level
generally works the best. Try several different settings to find the best sound quality.
WARNING: When using the first USB jack to power one Rx unit, do not use the second USB jack as a power supply.
Step 2 - Connect the Microphone
Setting up the MixAmp 5.8 as a USB Input/Output Device
The second step in connecting your new MixAmp 5.8 is to attach the USB Chat Cable to an available USB port on your
PC. This will act as a conduit for your voice communications channel. Upon connection, your computer will indicate that
the „ASTRO USB Chat Cable‟ has been found, installed and ready for use. The MixAmp 5.8 is driverless and installation is
automatic.
Using Windows XP
After installation, right click on the Volume icon in your system tray and open the „Adjust Audio Properties‟ box on your
desktop. Navigate to the Voice tab, and confirm that both Voice Playback and Voice Recording are set to the „ASTRO
USB Chat Cable‟. If not, change this using the drop down menu on each of these categories.
Next, click on the Playback tab, and confirm that your „Default Device‟ is either set to your soundcard or onboard audio
solution for Sound Playback. This will enable the MixAmp to be the default device for voice in/out and your soundcard for
game audio and give you full hardware mixing control via the
BALANCE dial.
Important: Alternatively, you may set the Sound Playback to the ASTRO USB Chat Cable if you DON‟T want to
connect an extra audio cable and DON‟T want to use the
mixing feature of the MixAmp. A single USB cable is all you‟ll need for this type of configuration. Simply mix game and
voice volumes using the software for your audio and voice programs.
Using Windows Vista/Windows 7
Upon installation, right-click on the Volume icon in your system tray and open the Audio Devices (for Vista) or
Playback Devices (for Win 7) sub-menu.
Under the Playback Tab, set your soundcard or onboard audio solution (NOT the MixAmp, in other words) as the default
playback device by right-clicking on the icon and selecting „Use this as my Default Playback Device‟ in the pop-up menu
If there is a green checkmark next to the currently selected default device, you will not be able to select it, since it is
already selected.
Important: Windows Vista will set the ASTRO USB Chat Cable as the default playback device when the MixAmp 5.8
is first installed, which will combine voice and game sound at your PC and negate the MixAmp‟s hardware mixing
capabilities (and the function of the BALANCE control). Follow the above instructions to reset your default playback
device to a soundcard or onboard audio output.
Alternatively, you may leave the default playback device set to the ASTRO USB Chat Cable if you DON‟T want to connect
an extra audio cable and DON‟T want to use the mixing feature of the MixAmp. A single USB cable is all you‟ll need for
this type of configuration. Simply mix game and voice volumes using the levels in the software for your audio and voice
programs.
Next, click on the Recording Tab and confirm that the ASTRO USB Chat Cable is set as the default device (should display
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