Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 30 Rage GH0230 User manual

Congratulations! 1
Congratulations!
Thank you for choosing the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB gaming headset. You are about to
experience the legendary audio quality of Sound Blaster on your PC or Mac®.
The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB combines the legendary acoustic engineering prowess of the
Sound Blaster team to create a world-class gaming headset with next-generation sound technology.
The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB gives you full, uncompressed gaming audio enhanced with the
SBX Pro Studio for incredible realism and 3D.
System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
lIntel® Pentium™ IV - 1.6GHz or equivalent AMD/Mac processor
l512 RAM for Windows® Vista®
lUSB1.1 or USB2.0 port
lMicrosoft® Windows 8 32-bit or 64-bit; Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit; Windows Vista 32-bit or 64-
bit with Service Pack 1 or higher; Windows XP 32-bit or 64-bit with Service Pack 2 or higher;
Mac OS® X 10.5.8 or higher
Recommended Requirements
lIntel Core™ 2 Duo 2.0GHz or faster
l1GB RAM
lInternet connection to download the drivers and applications available for this product
l600MB of free hard disk space
Note:
Due to programming changes, the recommended system requirements for the software and
applications may change over time.

Congratulations! 2
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.
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.
Notes:
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.

Your Headset At a Glance 3
Your Headset At a Glance
Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB Gaming Headset
2
1
1 - Adjustable headband
2 - Detachable noise-cancelling microphone
1
2
3 5
4
1 - Microphone mute LED
2 - Microphone jack
3 - 4-pole analog jack
4 - Volume control wheel
5 - Micro-USB port

Using Your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB 4
Using Your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB
Here we explain how to use the headset including the following procedures:
lSetting Up for Initial Use
lAdjusting the Volume
lConnecting to Smart Devices
lUsage Scenarios
Setting Up for Initial Use
Step 1 :Connect the headset
Connect your headset to a computer using the MicroUSB to USB cable. The headsetearcup will light up
once the headset is properly connected.
Step 2 :Set the default audio device (Mac OS ONLY)
1. Go to System Preferences and click Sound.
2. Select "Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Rage USB" in both the Output and Input tabs.
Step 3 : Wear it
Adjust the headband so that the headset rests lightly on your head. Do not tighten excessively.

Using Your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB 5
Step 4 :Downloading and Installing the Software
Your headset is now ready for use. However, you can enhance your audio and voice experience via an
optional software package that can be downloaded and installed into your PC. We recommend that you
download and install this software to make full use of all the features that your headset is equipped
with.
Note:
Please ensure that your headset is plugged into your computer before downloading and installing
the software.
For Windows
1. Using a standard web browser, visit www.creative.com/soundblaster/products/gaming and
locate the software package for the Windows operating system for your product.
2. Download this package into your local hard disk.
3. Locate and launch the software package.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. When prompted, restart your computer.
6. Launch the application by clicking Start > Programs or All Programs > Creative >Sound
Blaster Tactic(3D) > Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel".
For Mac
1. Using your web browser, visit www.creative.com/soundblaster/products/gaming and locate the
software package for the Mac OS for your product.
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.
6. Launch the application from the Applications > Creative >Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) >
Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel.
For more details on the software and the various features it has to offer, please refer to Using the
Software.

Using Your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB 6
Adjusting the Volume
The Volume Control Wheel on the headset cup can be used to adjust your headset
volume to a comfortable level. You can also adjust the volume via the software or
the in-built volume settings on your computer.
CAUTION:
Do not listen to audio on your headset at high volumes for prolonged periods of
time to avoid impairing your hearing.
Connecting to Smart Devices
Enjoy the power of the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB gaming headset on-the-go with portable
smart devices including iPhones, android phones and tablets. Simply connect the headset using the 4-
pole to 4-pole analog cable. The headset draws power directly from the smart device for operation.
Note:
Ear cup illumination and SBXPro Studio enhancements are not available when the headset is
connected to any device via the 4-pole jack.
If both the analog cable and the USB cable are connected to the same device (such as on a
laptop), the USB cable connection is prioritized unless manually configured otherwise.

Using Your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB 7
Usage Scenarios
Playing Games
Your headset is equipped with cutting edge audio technologies and software to enhance the audio in
your games. SBX Pro Studio will elevate your gaming experience to the next level, allowing you to
hear sound details in games you have never heard before! For more details on the various SBX Pro
Studio effects and their setup, please refer to Using the Software
Restoring Audio Effects in Games with Creative ALchemy
When playing DirectSound®3D on Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista, the game loses its
immersiveness and environmental effects due to changes in audio architecture.
To restore these effects and experience the full audio immersion, follow the steps below:
Enable Windows XPcompatibility mode
1. Navigate to the folder where your game is installed.
2. Right-click on the game's launcher and select Properties.
3. Select the Compatibility tab and select the Compatibility Mode checkbox.
4. Click the Compatibility Mode drop-down arrow and select Windows XP (Service Pack 2), then
click OK.
Enable the game in Creative ALchemy
1. Click Start >Programs or All Programs >Creative >ALchemy >Creative ALchemy.
The game should be detected automatically and appear in the left column.
2. Select the game and click ">>" to move it to the right column.
3. Close the application.
When you launch the game, you should hear the original effects.
Note:
If the game is not detected, do the following:
- Navigate to the folder where you have installed the game.
- Right-click the game's launched and select "Run as administrator".
- Exit the application and launch Creative ALchemy again. The game should now appear in the
left column.
Communicating with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Use the headset to enjoy outstanding acoustic performance in popular VoIP applications like Ventrilo®
and TeamSpeak®. Hear and be heard clearly by teammates during multiplayer games to get the
tactical edge.

Using the Software 8
Using the Software
A specialized software for the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB is developed to provide additional
enhancements to the audio and voice inputs and outputs of the product. The software bundle supports
a range of operating systems including:
lWindows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista
lMac OS X 10.5.8 or higher
To take full advantage of your headset, we recommend downloading and installing this software into
your computer.
Notes:
Some applications are available only for certain operating systems. To learn more about each
application, please consult its respective Online Help.
Installation and Uninstallation - Windows
For Windows OS, the following applications are included in the software bundle:
lSound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel
lCreative SoftwareAutoUpdate
lOnline Product Registration
lCreative System Information
lCreative ALchemy
lHost OpenAL
lCreative Driver
Installing
Notes:
Please ensure that your product is connected to the computer running the installation.
1. Using a standard web browser, visit www.creative.com/soundblaster/products/gaming and
locate the software package for the Windows operating system for your product.
2. Download this package into your local hard disk.
3. Locate and launch the software package.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. When prompted, restart your computer.

Using the Software 9
6. Launch the application by clicking Start > Programs or All Programs > Creative >Sound
Blaster Tactic(3D) > Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel.
This software includes a number of configurations that help you control the basic functions of your
product plus several software enhancement configurations that can be made to heighten your
product's performance. Click each of the menu bars to expand the configurations available.
Uninstalling
In the event that an uninstallation is required (such as for upgrades), please follow the following
procedure.
1. Click Start > Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
2. Select the Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) entry.
3. Click the Uninstall button.
If the User Account Control dialog box appears, click the Continue button.
4. Click the Yes button.
5. When prompted, restart your computer.

Using the Software 10
Installation and Uninstallation - Mac
For Mac OS, the following applications are included in the software bundle:
lSound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel
lProduct Registration
lCreative Uninstaller
lCreative Driver
Installing
Notes:
Please ensure that your product is connected to the computer running the installation.
1. Using your web browser, visit www.creative.com/soundblaster/products/gaming and locate the
software package for the Mac OS for your product.
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.
6. Launch the application from the Applications > Creative >Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) >
Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel.
This software includes a number of configurations that help you control the basic functions of your
product plus several software enhancement configurations that can be made to heighten your
product's performance. Click each of the menu bars to expand the configurations available.
Uninstalling
In the event that an uninstallation is required (such as for upgrades), please follow the following
procedure.
1. Click Applications > Creative >Creative Uninstaller.
2. Select the Creative products to be uninstalled.
3. Click the Uninstall button.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Using the Software 11
Using the Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel
The rest of this chapter explains how to use the Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel to view and
adjust the various features of your Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB. The examples and screenshots
below uses Windows as an example. The user interface for other operating systems may differ
slightly.
Managing Your Profiles
The Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel comes equipped with a set of pre-
configured profiles to suit your different needs including:
lFirst Person Shooter
lAction andAdventure
lDriving Simulation
lReal Time Strategy
To activate a profile,
1. Click the main "Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel" bar to view the
main screen of the software.
2. Click the down arrow and select your desired profile from the list.
To modify and save changes to the active profile,
1. Navigate through the various other menu options of the Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel
and modify the configurations as desired.
2. Return to the main interface and click [Save] to save the current settings to the active profile.
To delete the active profile, click the [Delete] button.
You can also share profiles among your friends and other gamers using the [Import] and [Export]
functions.
Note:
Tactic profiles for Windows and Mac are not compatible with each other.

Using the Software 12
Customizing Your Display Avatar
You can customize your control panel display avatar to an image of your choice.
Simply double-click the current avatar and choose an image file from the list.
Adjusting Your Volume Settings
Drag the headset or microphone volume marker to adjust the volume level.
You can mute/unmute the headset and/or microphone by clicking their respective
icons.
Configuring your general settings
You can change the language settings or restore settings to their default values.
Click from the top right corner of the interface and select the option from the list.

Using the Software 13
Enhancing the Audio - SBX Pro Studio
SBX Pro Studio enhances the audio output of your product using software optimizations. To configure
SBX Pro Studio, click the "SBX Pro Studio" menu option on the left.
1. Click the checkbox next to one or more of the available enhancements to enable it.
2. Adjust the level of enhancements to be applied individually.
3. Click to play the demo video to test your configurations.
4. Readjust if necessary.
SBX Pro Studio includes a number of enhancements for movies and gaming, elevating your movie and
gaming experience to the next level. These include:
lSBX Crystalizer - restores the natural dynamic range that is lost when music files (iTunes and
MP3) 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.
lSBX Surround - provides immersion control to enhance the natural sense of audio depth and
spaciousness by creating virtual surround sound channels. Stereo content or multi-channel
content will sound as if its coming from all sides while voices remain centered in front and
original balance and timbre is preserved.
lSBX Bass - fills in the missing low frequency tones and gives the extra impact for a better enter-
tainment experience. Consumers no longer have to tolerate a lack of bass in speakers as the
SBX Bass technology dramatically improves the sound experience even in the absence of a
subwoofer.
lSBX Dialog Plus - enhances the voices in movies for clearer dialog, allowing the listener to
hear the dialog over the rest of the soundtrack and over ambient noise in the listening envi-
ronment.
lSBX Smart Volume - addresses the problem of abrupt volume level changes during playback
and between songs by continously measuring volume automatically, applying gain and atten-
uation intelligently to compensate for any changes.

Using the Software 14
Enhancing the Microphone - VoiceFX™
To configure VoiceFX settings, Click the "VoiceFX" menu option on the left.
1. Select the VoiceFX checkbox to enable this feature.
2. Select a VoiceFX preset from the drop down menu and click [Test]. Speak into your microphone
to listen to your voice with the selected VoiceFX preset applied.
3. Use the sliders below to adjust the VoiceFX settings as desired. Test and readjust as necessary.
4. Click [Save] to save the adjusted settings into a new preset or click [Delete] to delete the
active preset.
Note:
The default list of VoiceFX presets cannot be deleted.

Using the Software 15
Equalizer Settings
Equalizers allows you to filter various audio frequency, thus controlling the tone of your audio output.
TheSound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel comes equipped with a range of preset equalizer settings,
helping you to select different audio tones easily. You can also manually modify or add equalizer
presets.
To view the Equalizer Settings interface, select "Equalizer" from the menu. To apply and adjust an
equalizer preset,
1. Check the EQ checkbox to enable the use of the equalizer.
2. From the drop down menu, select the preset to use.
3. Adjust the vertical slider bars to achieve your desired level.
4. Click [Save] to save the changes to the active preset or to a new preset.
You can also delete any user created equalizer presets by selecting the preset from the drop down
menu and clicking [Delete].
Notes:
All default equalizer presets cannot be deleted.

Using the Software 16
Customizing the Illumination and Theme
The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB illuminated earcups support up to 16 million colors, allowing you
to create a headset that is uniquely you. You can select your desired color through the Sound Blaster
Tactic(3D) Control Panel.
Select "SBPrism" from the menu to view the interface.
1. Click the "Select RGB Color" option and use the color picker below to select a LED color for your
headset.
2. From the drop down menu, select the idle time before the LED is switched to standby mode.
3. Adjust the Intensity and Pulsation settings for the LED using the two slider bars.
4. The "Pulsate along with tune" option enables the earcup LED illumination to pulsate according to
the currently playing music track.

General Specifications 17
General Specifications
Connectivity
lOne 3.50mm (1/8") stereo jack for detachable microphone
lOne 3.50mm 4-pole analog jack
Interfaces
lMicro-USB port for connection to computers
SBX Pro Studio Technology
lSBX Crystalizer
lSBX Surround
lSBX Bass
lSBX Dialog Plus
lSBX Smart Volume

Troubleshooting 18
Troubleshooting
What do the various LEDstatuses mean?
The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage USB headset is equipped with various LEDs that indicate the status of
the device. Each LED, their possible statuses and corresponding explanations are listed in the tables
below:
Headset LEDs
LED Status Description
Earcup LED
Stable / Pulsating Headset is turned on.
Off Headset is off.
Microphone Mute LED
Stable (Red) Microphone is muted.
Off Microphone mute is off.
The onboard audio chipset seems to be in conflict with Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage
USB.
Disable your computer's onboard audio chipset. See your computer's motherboard documentation for
details.
No sound from the headset.
Check the following:
lThe volume settings in Sound Blaster Tactic(3D) Control Panel and system audio are properly
adjusted and not muted.
lThere is no hardware conflict between the headset and a peripheral device.
There is clipping/distortion during audio playback.
Your computer system should be running in high performance mode. You may need to disable any
power saving features.
Some features are disabled when playing certain games.
When playing games that use DirectSound3D or OpenAL sound engines, certain audio features will be
disabled automatically. This is to avoid distorting the environmental audio cues present in the
game.These features will be re-enabled automatically when you exit the game.

Safety Information 19
Safety Information
Refer to the following information to use your product safely, and to reduce the chance of electric
shock, short-circuiting, damage, fire, hearing impairment or other hazards. Improper handling
may void the warranty for your product. For more information, read the warranty
available with your product.
lRead these instructions.
lKeep these instructions.
lHeed all warnings.
lFollow all instructions.
lDo not use this apparatus near water.
lClean only with dry cloth.
lDo not block any ventilation openings. Install the product in accordance with the instructions.
lDo not install near heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.
lDo not expose your product to temperatures outside the range of 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F).
lDo not pierce, crush or set fire to your product.
lKeep your product away from strong magnetic objects.
lDo not subject your product to excessive force or impact.
lProtect the cables from being walked on or pinched, particularly at the plugs, convenience
receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
lOnly use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
lUse only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to
avoid injury from tip-over.
lUnplug the apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
lDo not dismantle or attempt to repair your product.
lRefer all servicing to authorized and qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed
to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
lWARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose your product to water or
moisture. If your product is moisture-resistant, take care not to immerse your product in water
or expose it to rain.
Earphones
lWhen a conductive apparatus, such as earphones, is used in close proximity with a CRT
television or CRT monitor, the latter may emit an electrostatic discharge. The electrostatic
discharge can be felt as a static short. While this static shock is usually harmless, it is good
practice to avoid close contact with CRT devices when using earphones.
lDo not listen to audio on your earbuds or headphones at high volume for prolonged periods of
time as hearing loss may result. For users in the United States, go to www.hei.org for more
information.
lDo not listen to your audio device at high volume when driving, cycling or crossing the road,
especially in heavy traffic or any other traffic condition where such use will hinder safe travel on
the roads. We recommend that consumers be extremely cautious when using this device on the
road.