Creative Audigy 2 ZS User manual

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About Your Hardware
To learn more about your product, refer to the corresponding section:
Your Audigy 2 ZS audio card
Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket
Your Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum)
Your Remote Control (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum)

Your Audigy 2 ZS audio card
Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of devices:
Jack or Connector Description
1. FireWire (IEEE 1394)
connector
Connects to a FireWire (IEEE 1394) compatible external device (for example, a digital video camcorder,
digital still camera, printer or scanner).
2. Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3) Connects to Front Center, Subwoofer, Side Left (only on 7.1 systems) and Rear Center (only on 6.1
systems) inputs on powered analog speakers or an external amplifier.
3. Line Out 2 jack (LIN_OUT2) Connects to Rear Left, Rear Right, and Side Right (only on 7.1 systems) inputs on powered analog
speakers or an external amplifier.
4. Line Out 1 jack (LIN_OUT1) Connects to Front Left and Front Right inputs on powered analog speakers or an external amplifier.
Also supports headphones.
5. Microphone In jack
(MIC_IN) Connects to an external microphone for voice input.
6. Line In jack (LIN_IN) Connects to analog devices like music synthesizers and other line-level sources.
7. Digital Out jack Connects to external digital devices or digital speaker systems (6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF
output).
8. Telephone Answering Device
connector (TAD)
Provides a monaural connection from a standard voice modem, and transmits microphone signals to
the modem.
9. CD Audio connector
(CD_IN)
Connects to the Analog Audio output on a CD/DVD-ROM drive using an Analog CD audio cable
(available separately).
10. Aux In connector (AUX_IN) Connects to the analog output from a CD/DVD-ROM drive.
11. Internal FireWire (IEEE 1394)
connector (SB1394)
Connects to the internal FireWire (IEEE 1394) connector on the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy
2 ZS Platinum).
12. CD SPDIF connector
(CD_SPDIF) Connects to the digital output from a CD/DVD-ROM drive.

13. Joystick/MIDI connector
(JOYSTICK)
Connects to the Joystick/MIDI bracket for gaming or MIDI devices (optional).
14. AD_EXT connector
(AD_EXT) Connects to the AD_EXT connector on the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum).

Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket
The Joystick/MIDI bracket is used to attach a joystick or MIDI device:
Jack or Connector Description
1. Joystick/MIDI connector Connects to a joystick or a MIDI device.

Your Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum)
The Platinum Drive provides additional connectivity for a number of other devices.

Front panel
Jack or Connector Description
1.
Optical SPDIF In/Out
connectors (OPTICAL
IN/OUT)
Connect to recording/playback devices with optical connectors (for example, M iniDisc recorders, Digital
Audio Tape recorders or external hard disk recorders).
2. Auxiliary 2 Line In jacks
(AUX IN 2) Connects to analog devices like VCRs, TVs and CD players.
3. Infrared receiver Lets you control your computer via the IR remote control.
4.
Coaxial SPDIF In/Out
connectors (SPDIF
IN/OUT)
Connect to digital audio recording/playback devices with optical connectors (for example, M iniDisc
recorders, Digital Audio Tape recorders or external hard disk recorders).
5. FireWire (IEEE 1394)
connector
Connects to a FireWire (IEEE 1394) compatible external device (for example, a digital video camcorder,
digital still camera, printer or scanner).
6. Headphones jack Connects to headphones. Speaker output will be muted if selected in software (Creative Audio HQ or
Creative Audio Control).
7. Headphones volume
knob
Controls the volume of your headphones. Turn clockwise to increase the volume, and counterclockwise to
decrease the volume.
8.
Mini MIDI In/Out
connectors (M IDI
IN/OUT)
Connects to MIDI devices using the mini-MIDI-to-standard-MIDI adapter cables provided.
9. Line In 2/Mic In 2 jack
(LINE IN 2/MIC IN 2) Connects to line sources (for example, electric guitars) or a microphone.
10. Line In 2/Mic In 2 knob
(Microphone gain) Selects Line In 2 or M ic In 2. To increase microphone gain, continue to turn clockwise.
11. Line In 2/M ic In 2
separator mark
To switch to Line In 2, turn the knob counter clockwise over the Line In 2/M ic In 2 separator mark until
you hear a "click". To switch back to Mic In 2, turn the knob clockwise over the separator mark until you
hear a "click".

Top panel
Jack or Connector Description
1. Jumper JP1 Connects to the supplied shunt. By default, your Platinum Drive is set for use with a condenser
microphone. Connect the supplied shunt to Jumper JP1 if you want to use a dynamic microphone.
2. Power connector Connects to the supplied power splitter cable.
3. AD_EXT connector
(AD_EXT) Connects to the AD_EXT connector on the Audigy 2 ZS audio card.
4. Internal FireWire (IEEE
1394) connector (SB1394) Connects to the internal FireWire (IEEE 1394) connector on the Audigy 2 ZS audio card.

Your Remote Control (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum)
The Platinum Drive has an infrared receiver for your Creative remote control. Your remote control lets you operate your computer from
the comfort of your sofa or bed, at a distance of four meters (13 feet).

Changing the battery
To insert your remote control's battery:
1. Release the battery compartment by depressing the small tab on the left, and then slide out the battery compartment.
Place the battery with its positive polarity indicator (+) facing up, and slide the battery compartment back in.

Using your remote control
Note
OSD - On Screen Display. The OSD appears on your computer monitor.
To select an option on the OSD, press the Up, Down, Reverse/Left and Fast-Forward/Right buttons to scroll the option, and then
press the Select/OK button on your remote control.
Depending on where you purchased your product, the actual remote control may vary from the one shown here.
Button Description
1. Number pad
Use to select tracks and menu items. To access a two-digit track such as track 10, press the 1 button followed by the
0 button (in quick succession).
When albums, tracks, genres or playlists are displayed on the OSD, you can search them by name using the number
pad. Each key on the number pad is assigned different letters (2abc to 9wxyz) or symbols (1&() and 0_-), and you
can use these to enter a name. Press once for the first character, twice for the second character, three times for the
third character, and so on. If you make a mistake, you can delete characters to the left of the cursor by pressing the
Rewind/Left button.
During playback, press the 0 button to display the track list on the OSD.
2. CMSS Turns on CMSS or CMSS 2.
3. Mute Mutes audio.
4. Power Displays the OSD Power Settings submenu.
5. EAX Displays the OSD EAX submenu.
6. Volume Volume Up (+) and Volume Down (-) buttons control the master volume of your computer.

7. Up Scrolls up in the OSD menus.
8. Rewind/Left Rewinds a track during playback. Scrolls left in the OSD menus.
9. Start Opens the OSD main menu.
10. Return Returns to a previous OSD submenu.
11. Rec Records the track that is being played back.
12. Play/Pause Starts, pauses or resumes current playback.
13. Previous Goes to the previous track, or previous OSD submenu.
14. Slow Enables Time Scaling for MP3, WAV and VCD files (for Creative Sound Blaster Audigy series audio cards only).
Press repeatedly to select the speed. To resume normal playback, press the Play/Pause button.
15. Select/OK Executes a selected option in the OSD.
16. Fast
Forward/Right Fast forwards a track during playback. Scrolls right in the OSD menus.
17. Down Scrolls down in the OSD menus.
18. Cancel Closes the OSD or any application that you are controlling with your Creative remote control.
19. Display Displays (where applicable) the current play mode and track information, and OSD time and date.
20. Options Displays options for a selected task.
21. Next Goes to the next track or menu page.
22. Step Press once to pause playback, and press again to advance to the next video frame (for video only). To resume normal
playback, press the Play/Pause button.
23. Stop/Eject Stops the current playback. Ejects your CD/DVD-ROM drive tray when no track is being played back.

Installing Hardware
What You Need
Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these:
Note
In addition, you will also need on your computer, an available PCI slot for your audio card and an available adjacent slot for your
Joystick/MIDI bracket (optional).
The Analog CD audio cable is available separately.
If you are installing the Platinum Drive (available with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum), you will also need these following items:
Warning!
Use the AD_EXT cable ONLY with the Platinum Drive. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with
the Platinum Drive as it may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to your Audigy 2 ZS audio card, Platinum Drive and
computer. It will also void the warranty for this product.

Step 1: Prepare your computer
1. Turn off your computer and all peripheral devices.
Touch a metal plate on your computer to ground yourself and to discharge any static electricity, and then unplug the power cord from
the wall outlet.
Remove the computer casing.
Remove a metal bracket from an unused PCI slot. If you are installing the Joystick/MIDI bracket (optional), also remove an adjacent
metal bracket.
Component
1. Metal brackets
2. PCI slot
3. ISA slot (may not be present on your computer)
Caution!
Turn off the main power supply and disconnect your computer's power cord. Systems using an ATX power supply unit with soft
power off may still be powering the PCI slot. This can damage your audio card when it is inserted into the slot.
Note
Remove any existing audio card or disable the onboard audio chipset. For more information, see Problems with Multiple Audio
Devices.
If you are installing the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum), remove the front panel cover from an unused 5 1/4-inch
drive bay.

Component
1. 5 1/4-inch drive bay cover

Step 2: Prepare your Platinum Drive
This step only applies if you are installing the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum). If you are not installing the
Platinum Drive, go to Step 6: Install the audio card.
There are two types of microphones that can be connected to your Platinum Drive: dynamic microphones and condenser microphones.
By default, your Platinum Drive is set for use with a condenser microphone. To use a dynamic microphone, you must place the provided
shunt onto Jumper JP1 of your Platinum Drive.
Component
1. Shunt
2. Jumper JP1
To use a condenser microphone, remove the shunt from Jumper JP1.
Component
1. Shunt
2. Jumper JP1
Note
The Jumper JP1 may not be available on certain models of the Platinum Drive.
The shunt for Jumper JP1 can be found together with the packet of screws provided.

Step 3: Connect cables to the Platinum Drive
This step only applies if you are installing the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum).
Component
1. Internal FireWire (IEEE 1394) cable
2. Jumper JP1
3. Power splitter cable
4. To system power supply unit
5. Red-colored wire
6. AD_EXT cable
7. Black circle on the underside of the cable
8. Platinum Drive
Warning!
Use the AD_EXT cable ONLY with the Platinum Drive. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with
the Platinum Drive as it may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to your Audigy 2 ZS audio card, Platinum Drive and
computer. It will also void the warranty for this product.
To prevent permanent damage, use only: the AD_EXT cable with the AD_EXT connector, and the Audigy 2 ZS audio card with the
Platinum Drive.
Do not force any cable into a connector. This can cause permanent damage to your hardware. If it does not fit properly, gently remove
it and try again. Make sure you are connecting to the correct connector, and that the cable is properly aligned with the connector.

Step 4: Install the Platinum Drive
This step only applies if you are installing the Platinum Drive (included with Audigy 2 ZS Platinum).
1. Carefully pass the cables attached to the Platinum Drive through the vacant drive bay of your computer. Make sure these cables
do not block the airflow of the fans and heatsinks in your computer.
Slide the Platinum Drive fully into the vacant drive bay.
Secure the sides of the Platinum Drive to the casing with the screws provided.