Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi User manual

Howtousethismanual
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Introduction
CongratulationsonyourpurchaseofCreative'slatestaudiorevolution,Sound
BlasterX-Fi™!WithcuttingedgetechnologyfromtheleadersinPCaudio,
SoundBlasterX-Fiwillgiveyouyearsofreliableentertainment.
ThisUser'sGuidecontainssoftwareinstallationandusageinformationforthe
SoundBlasterX-Fiseriesofaudiodevices.
Notes
SomeproductsintheSoundBlasterX-Fiseriesareonlyavailablein
certainregions.Formoreinformationonproductavailabilityandpossible
upgradeoptions,consultyourlocaldistributororvisit
www.soundblaster.com/X-Fi.

SystemRequirements
BasicRequirements
GenuineIntel®Pentium®III1GHz,AMD®1GHzprocessororfaster
Intel,AMDor100%compatiblemotherboardchipset
Microsoft®WindowsVista®64-bitwithServicePack1(SP1),WindowsVista
32-bitwithSP1,Windows®XPProfessionalx64Edition,WindowsXPService
Pack2(SP2),WindowsXPMediaCenterEdition(MCE)2005orWindowsXP
MCE2004.
256MBRAM(512MBforWindowsVista)
600MBoffreeharddiskspace
AvailablePCI2.1slotfortheaudiocard
Headphonesoramplifiedspeakers(availableseparately)
CD-ROM/CD-RWorCD/DVD-ROMrequiredforsoftwareinstallation
AvailableUSBportfortheIRReceiver*
Available51/4-inchdrivebayfortheX-FiI/ODrive*
AdditionalRequirements(whereapplicable)
Gaming
DirectX®9andOpenGL®compliant3Dgraphicsacceleratorwithatleast
32MBoftextureRAM
DVD-Video
6xorfasterDVD-ROMdrive
DVDplayersoftwaresuchasInterVideo®WinDVD®orCyberLink®
PowerDVD®(latestversionrecommended)installed
5.1or7.1speakersforoptimallisteningexperience
High-speedInternetconnectiontodownloadthelatestPowerDVDwith
Dolby®digitalandDTS®decodingcodec**
EntertainmentCenterandRemoteControlUsage*
MicrosoftOfficePowerPoint®97orlatertocontrolPowerPoint
presentationswirelesslyusingtheremotecontrol
AudioCreation
256MBRAMandaboveisrequiredforloading24-bitSoundFontbanks

Notes
Otherapplications,especiallygames,mayhavehighersystem
requirements.Refertotheapplications'documentationfordetails.
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.
**Availablewithoutadditionalchargeforselectedmodels.

MoreHelp
Visitwww.soundblaster.comforthelatestSoundBlasternewsandproducts.
Thesitealsoincludesinformationonmakingpurchases,technicalhelp,andthe
latestdriverupdates.

AboutYourHardware
RefertotheQuickStartleafletforinstructionsoninstallingyourSoundBlaster
X-Fi.Tolearnmoreaboutyourproduct,refertotherelevantsectionbelow:
YourSoundBlasterX-Fiaudiocard
YourRemoteControl*
YourIRReceiver*
YourDigitalI/OModule*
YourSoundBlasterX-FiI/ODrive*
YourSoundBlasterX-FiI/OConsole*
Notes
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.

YourSoundBlasterX-Fiaudiocard
Youraudiocardhasthejacksandconnectorsbelowtoenabletheattachmentofa
widevarietyofdevices.Theavailabilityandpositionofthejacksandconnectors
mayvary,asshownbelow:
SB046XSeries
SB055XSeries

SB073XSeries
Jackor
Connector Description
1. AD_Linkconnector ConnectoneendoftheAD_Linkcabletothisconnector.ConnecttheotherendtotheAD_Link
(26pin)connectorontheX-FiI/OConsole*.

2. LineOut3jack
Connectthefollowinginputsonpoweredanalogspeakersorahometheaterreceivertothisjack:
On5.1systems:FrontCenterandSubwoofer
On7.1systems:FrontCenter,SubwooferandSideLeft
3.
LineOut2jack
Connectthefollowinginputsonpoweredanalogspeakersorahometheaterreceivertothisjack:
On4.1and5.1systems:RearLeftandRearRight
On7.1systems:RearLeft,RearRightandSideRight
4.
LineOut1jack
ConnecttheFrontLeftandFrontRightinputsonpoweredanalogspeakersorahometheaterreceiverto
thisjack.Youcanalsoconnectyourstereoheadphoneswitha3.50mm(1/8-inch)plugtothisjack.
5.
FlexiJack
ForSB046XandSB055Xseries
Performsa3-in-1function,supportingMicrophone-in,Line-inandDigitalI/Oconnections.
Connectoneofthefollowingtothisjack:
analogdeviceslikecassetteplayersandotherline-levelsources
amicrophone
theDigitalI/OModule*
externaldigitalaudiodevicesthatacceptstereoPCMorcompressedDolbyDigital/DTSBitstreamfrom
theS/PDIFoutput
SeeConfiguringyourFlexiJack.
ForSB073Xseries
Performsa3-in-1function,supportingMicrophone-in,Line-inandOpticaloutconnections.
Connectoneofthefollowingtothisjack:
analogdeviceslikecassetteplayersandotherline-levelsources
amicrophone
externaldigitalaudiodevicesthatacceptstereoPCMorcompressedDolbyDigital/DTSBitstreamfrom
theOpticaloutput
OnaSB073Xseriescard,thisjackdoesnothavetheDigital-infunctiontosupporttheDigitalI/OModule.
6.
CreativeProprietaryconnector
ProvidesaproprietaryconnectionforCreativedevices.Donotusethisconnectorunlessinstructedtodoso.
7.
AuxInconnector
ConnectananalogCDcable(availableseparately)fromtheanalogoutputonanaudiodevicelikeaTV
tunertothisconnector.
8.
Powerconnector
PowerstheX-FiI/OConsole*viatheAD_Linkconnector.Connectapowercablefromyourcomputer's
powersupplytothisconnector.
9.
AD_EXTconnector
ConnectoneendoftheAD_EXTcabletothisconnector.ConnecttheotherendtotheAD_EXTconnector
ontheX-FiI/ODrive*.
10.
FrontPanelHeaderAudioconnector
ConnectoneendoftheIntel®FrontPanelAudiocable(availableseparately)tothisconnector.SeeFront
PanelHeader(forSB073Xseries)forspecifications.

11.
SPDIFI/Oconnector
ConnecttheOpticalDigitalIOCard*tothisconnector.
Notes
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.
SelecttheDigitalI/Ooptionwhenconnectingdigitalaudiodevicestothe
DigitalI/OModule(availablewithselectedmodelsorasanupgradeoption).
Alsoselecttheoptionifyouwanttoconnectexternaldigitalaudiodevicesthat
acceptstereoPCMorcompressedDolbyDigital/DTSBitstreamfromthe
S/PDIFoutput.SeeConfiguringyourFlexiJackformoreinformation.
Somemodelsofyouraudiodevicecomewithabuilt-in64MBX-RAM.This
specialRAMisreservedforgamedeveloperstostoreagame'saudiofileonthe
audiocard,forfasterretrieval,processingandplayback.Anygamethatsupports
X-RAMreceivesanevenbiggerperformanceboost.

ConfiguringyourFlexiJack
Youraudiocard'sFlexiJack*providesbothanaloganddigitalsupport.After
connectingthedevicethatyouwanttotheFlexiJack,followtheinstructions
belowtoconfigureyourFlexiJackforthefollowingusermodes:
EntertainmentMode
1. InEntertainmentMode,clicktheDigitalI/O icon.TheDigitalI/O
pageappears.
ClickDigitalI/OorMic-In/Line-IntoselecttheFlexiJackModethatyou
want.
AudioCreationMode
1. InAudioCreationMode,clicktheSettingsbutton.TheSettingsdialogbox
appears.
UnderDigitalI/O,clickDigitalI/OorMic-In/Line-IntoselecttheFlexiJack
Modethatyouwant.
GameMode
1. InGameMode,clicktheSettingsbutton.TheSettingsdialogboxappears.
UnderDigitalI/O,clickDigitalI/OorMic-In/Line-IntoselecttheFlexiJack
Modethatyouwant.
Notes
*ApplicableonlytoFlexiJackswithDigitalI/Ofunctions.

YourRemoteControl*
DesignedforusewiththeIRReceiver*,X-FiI/ODrive*orX-FiI/OConsole*,
yourremotecontrolletsyouoperateyourcomputerfromthecomfortofyour
sofaorbed,atadistanceofupto3meters(approximately9.8feet).
Notes
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.
Toselectanoptiononamenu,presstheUp,Down,LeftandRightbuttonsto
scrolltotheoption,andthenpresstheSelect/OKbuttononyourremotecontrol.
Theremotecontrolincludedwithyourproductmayvaryfromtheoneshown
here,dependingontheregionwhereitwasoriginallypurchased.


Button
or
Scroller
Description
1. Numberpad
Usetoselecttracksforplayback.Toaccessatwo-digittracksuchastrack10,pressthe1button
followedbythe0button(inquicksuccession).
2. Return Returnstoapreviousmenu.
3. Options Displaystheoptionsmenu.
4. Display DisplaysEntertainmentCenterwhenminimizedordisplaystheNowPlayingscreenwhenitis
maximized.

5. EAX PressrepeatedlytoprogressivelycyclethroughavailableEAXeffects.Scrollforwardorbackwardto
adjusttheamountofEAXeffectapplied.
6. X-Fi
Crystalizer
TurnstheX-FiCrystalizereffectonoroffwhenpressed.Scrollforwardorbackwardtoadjustthe
amountofX-FiCrystalizereffectapplied.
7. Power TurnsEntertainmentCenteronoroffwhenpressed.
8. X-FiCMSS-
3D
TurnsX-FiCMSS-3Donoroffwhenpressed.Scrollforwardorbackwardtoadjusttheamountof
stereoenvelopmentbetweenthefrontandsurroundchannelsonamultispeakersystem,ortheamount
ofvirtualizationonapairofstereospeakers.
9. 3DMIDI
Turns3DMIDIonoroffwhenpressed.Scrollforwardorbackwardtoadjustthepanspreadofthe
MIDIsourceinrelationtotheFrontdirectiononthehorizontalplane.
10.
VolumeUp(+)
andVolume
Down(-)
Controlthemastervolumeofyourcomputer.
11. Mute Mutesaudio.
12. Cancel MinimizesEntertainmentCenterorclosesanyapplicationthatyouarecontrollingwithyourremote
control.
13. Start DisplaysEntertainmentCenter'smainmenu.
14. Left Scrollsleft.
15. Up Scrollsup.
16. Select/OK Executesaselectedoptioninamenu.
17. Right Scrollsright.
18. Down Scrollsdown.
19. Rec
Recordsthetrackthatisbeingplayedback.
20. Rewind/Left Movesbackwithinatrackduringplaybackorscrollsleft.
21. Previous Goestotheprevioustrackorscrollsup.
22. Next Goestothenexttrackorscrollsdown.
23. Fast
Forward/Right Movesaheadwithinatrackduringplaybackorscrollsright.
24. Slow EnablesTimeScalingforCDAudioplayedbackusingadigitalformat,orMP3,WAVandVCDfiles.
Pressrepeatedlytoselectthespeed.Toresumenormalplayback,pressthePlay/Pausebutton.
25. Play/Pause Starts,pausesorresumescurrentplayback.
26. Stop/Eject
Stopsthecurrentplayback.EjectsyourCD/DVD-ROMdrivetraywhennotrackisbeingplayed
back.

YourIRReceiver*
YourIRReceiverreceivesinfraredsignalsfromtheremotecontrol*and
transmitsthemtoyourcomputer.ConnecttheIRReceivertoaUSBportonyour
computer.
Connector
1. USBPort
Notes
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.

YourDigitalI/OModule*
TheDigitalI/OModuleprovidesadditionalconnectivityforanumberofother
devices.
Jackor
Connector Description
1. OpticalSPDIFOut
jack
Connectrecordingdeviceswithopticaljacks(forexample,MiniDiscrecorders,DigitalAudio
Taperecordersorexternalharddiskrecorders)tothisjack.
2. OpticalSPDIFIn
jack
Connectplaybackdeviceswithopticaljacks(forexample,MiniDiscplayers,DigitalAudioTape
playersorDVDplayers)tothisjack.
3. CoaxialSPDIFIn
jack
Connectplaybackdeviceswithcoaxialjacks(forexample,MiniDiscplayers,DigitalAudioTape
orDVDplayers)tothisjack.
4. CoaxialSPDIF
Outjack
Connectrecordingdeviceswithcoaxialjacks(forexample,MiniDiscrecorders,DigitalAudio
Taperecordersorexternalharddiskrecorders)tothisjack.
Notes
*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.

YourSoundBlasterX-FiI/ODrive*
TheX-FiI/ODriveprovidesadditionalconnectivityforanumberofother
devices.
Frontpanel
Jackor
Connector Description
1. CoaxialSPDIF
In/Outjacks
Connectdigitalaudiorecording/playbackdeviceswithcoaxialjacks(forexample,MiniDisc
recorders,DigitalAudioTaperecordersorexternalharddiskrecorders)tothesejacks.
2. OpticalSPDIF
In/Outjacks
Connectrecording/playbackdeviceswithopticaljacks(forexample,MiniDiscrecorders,Digital
AudioTaperecordersorexternalharddiskrecorders)tothesejacks.
3. Auxiliary2Line
Injacks
ConnectoneendofanRCAcabletothesejacks.ConnecttheotherendtotheRCAoutputson
analogdeviceslikeVCRs,TVsandCDplayers.
4. Infraredreceiver Receivesinfraredsignalsfromtheremotecontrol*andtransmitsthemtoyourcomputer.
5.
MiniMIDI
In/Out
connectors
ConnectMIDIdevicestotheseconnectorsusingmini-MIDI-to-standard-MIDIadaptercables*.

6. Headphone
volumedial
Controlsthevolumetoyourheadphones.Turnclockwisetoincreasethevolume,and
counterclockwisetodecreasethevolume.
7. Headphonejack
Connectstereoheadphoneswitha6.35mm(1/4-inch)stereoplugtothisjack.Speakeroutputwill
bemutediftheAutomaticallymutespeakerscheckboxisselectedinAudioConsoleor
EntertainmentMode.Formoreinformation,refertotheironlineHelp.
8. LineIn2/MicIn
2jack
Connectaline-levelsource(forexample,acassetteplayeroranelectricguitarrunningthrougha
Pre-ampFXBox)oramicrophonetothisjack.
9. LineIn2/MicIn
2dial
SelectsLineIn2orMicIn2.Alsocontrolstheinputgain.Turnthedialclockwisetoincreasethe
inputgain,andcounterclockwisetodecreasetheinputgain.
10. LineIn2/MicIn
2separatormark
ToselectLineIn2forline-levelsources,turnthedialcounterclockwiseovertheLineIn2/MicIn2
separatormarkuntilyouheara"click".ToselectMicIn2,turnthedialclockwiseoverthe
separatormarkuntilyouheara"click".
Toppanel
Jackor
Connector Description
1. JumperJP1
ConnecttheshuntsuppliedwithyourX-FiI/ODrivetothisjumperifyouwanttouseadynamic
microphone.Donotconnecttheshuntifyouwanttouseacondensermicrophoneorcomputer
microphone.
2. Powerconnector ConnectthepowersplittercablesuppliedwithyourX-FiI/ODrivetothisconnector.
3. AD_EXT
connector
ConnectoneendoftheAD_EXTcabletothisconnector.ConnecttheotherendtotheAD_Link
connectorontheSoundBlasterX-Fiaudiocard.
Notes

*Availablewithsomemodelsofyouraudiodevice,orasanupgrade
accessoryinsomeregions.

YourSoundBlasterX-FiI/OConsole*
TheX-FiI/OConsoleprovidesadditionalconnectivityforanumberofother
devices.
Frontpanel
Jackor
Dial Description
1. Headphone
jack
Connectstereoheadphoneswitha6.35mm(1/4-inch)stereoplugtothisjack.Speakeroutputwillbe
mutediftheAutomaticallymutespeakerscheckboxisselectedinAudioConsoleorEntertainment
Mode.Formoreinformation,refertotheironlineHelp.
2. LineIn3/Hi-
Zjack
Connectaline-levelsource(suchasacassette,DATorMiniDiscplayer)tothisjack.Youcanalso
connectalowoutputimpedancedevicesuchasanelectricguitarwhenHi-Zisenabled.
Hi-Zoffershighinputimpedancetomatchtheloaddeliveredbylowoutputimpedancedevices.This
eliminatestheneedtorunsuchdevicesthroughpre-ampequipment.
3.
LineIn
2/MicIn2
jack
Connectaline-levelsource(suchasacassette,DATorMiniDiscplayer,oranelectricguitarrunning
throughaPre-ampFXBox)oramicrophonetothisjack.
4. LineIn3/Hi-
Zdial
SelectsLineIn3orHi-Z.Alsocontrolstheinputgain.Turnthedialclockwisetoincreasetheinput
gain,andcounterclockwisetodecreasetheinputgain.
ToselectLineIn3forline-levelsources,turnthedialcounterclockwiseovertheseparatormark
untilyouheara"click".ToselectHi-Zforlowoutputimpedancedevicessuchasanelectricguitar,
turnthedialclockwiseovertheseparatormarkuntilyouheara"click".
5.
LineIn
2/MicIn2
dial
SelectsLineIn2orMicIn2.Alsocontrolstheinputgain.Turnthedialclockwisetoincreasetheinput
gain,andcounterclockwisetodecreasetheinputgain.
ToselectLineIn2forline-levelsources,turnthedialcounterclockwiseovertheseparatormark
untilyouheara"click".ToselectMicIn2,turnthedialclockwiseovertheseparatormarkuntilyou
heara"click".
6. 3DMIDIdial
Turns3DMIDIonoroffwhenpressed.Turnthedialclockwiseorcounterclockwisetoadjustthepan
spreadoftheMIDIsourceinrelationtotheFrontdirectiononthehorizontalplane.