TerraTec AUREON 5.1 SKY User manual

SoundSystem
5.1
Digital Audio Solution
A UREON Sky
English Manual
Version 18.02.03

CE Declaration
We:
TerraTec Electronic GmbH, Herrenpfad 38, D-41334 Nettetal, Germany
hereby declare that the product:
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky
to which this declaration refers is in compliance with the following standards or standardizing docu-
ments:
1. EN 55022 Class B
2. EN 55024
The following are the stipulated operating and environmental conditions for said compliance:
residential, business and commercial environments and small-company environments.
This declaration is based on:
Test report(s) of the EMC testing laboratory
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and shall not be deemed as a warranty by the
seller. No warranties, express or implied, are made with regard to the quality, suitability or accuracy of this docu-
ment. The manufacturer reserves the right to change the contents of this document and/or the associated products
at any time without the provision of prior notice to specific persons or organizations. The manufacturer shall not be
held liable for damages of any kind arising from the use, or the inability to use this product or its documentation,
even if the possibility of such damage is known. The information in this document is subject to copyright. All rights
are reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the
express written permission of the copyright holders. Product and brand names contained in this document are used
for identification purposes only. All registered trademarks, product designations or brand names used in this
document are the registered property of their respective owners.
2 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)
©TerraTec®Electronic GmbH, 1994-2002. All rights reserved (18.02.03).

Contents
Welcome! ................................................................................................................................4
From opening the package to installation. .............................................................................. 6
Short and to the point for busy pros. ....................................................................................7
The connectors of the Aureon 5.1 Sky PCI card..................................................................... 8
Installation - step by step. ...................................................................................................... 9
Installing the driver software. .............................................................................................10
The connections and their uses. ............................................................................................24
Overview. ...........................................................................................................................24
The software. ........................................................................................................................ 26
The Aureon ControlPanel. ...................................................................................................27
WaveLab Lite 2.0 ................................................................................................................32
MusicMatch Jukebox. .........................................................................................................32
Cyberlink PowerDVD ...........................................................................................................33
Emagic Logic Fun................................................................................................................33
The HOTSTUFF folder. .........................................................................................................34
Practice. ................................................................................................................................35
The digital interfaces of the Aureon 5.1 Sky.........................................................................35
Stuff worth knowing. ..........................................................................................................37
Appendix. ..............................................................................................................................38
FAQ—frequently asked questions and their answers. .........................................................38
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 3

Welcome!
We're pleased that you have chosen a TerraTec SoundSystem and would like to congratulate
you on this decision. You've purchased a sophisticated product representing the state of the
art of audio technology, and we're convinced that our product will prove extremely useful to
you in the coming years and provide you with a great deal of entertainment.
This manual covers the SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky and its uses in great detail.
But first, here's a quick overview:
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky PCI card
A broad range of connections.
The SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky is the result of our many years of experience in the PC audio
sector and reflects the continuous evolution of audio and multimedia software for the PC. The
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky offers you a wide range of interconnection options with other
audio devices such as hifi surround systems, MiniDisc or CD players with analog or digital
outputs, headphones and microphones.
High-quality audio characteristics.
4 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)
The SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky provides extremely high quality for analog recording and
playback of analog material. The card features studio-quality 24-bit/96 kHz technology. Using
Windows XP with Service Pack 1, playback at no less than 24-bit/192 kHz becomes possible.

As a result, the Aureon 5.1 Sky achieves a S/N ratio of well over -100 dB(A) on its analog in-
puts and outputs!
Recording and playback of audio material at the purely digital level.
The SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky features an optical input and output in 24-bit S/PDIF format.
You can therefore transfer already digitized recordings from a CD, DAT or MiniDisc player (or
recorder) to the PC without losses. In addition, you have the choice of all commonly-used
sampler rates, as well as access to settings such as copy protection. The interface can even
be used for raw data streams such as AC-3 and DTS.
Software à la carte.
The software side features a generous package, including Cyberlink PowerDVD with Dolby
Digital EX, the Wavelab Lite 2.0 audio editor, the Emagic Logic Fun composing application,
and Musicmatch Jukebox for your MP3s.
WDM drivers for Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 and XP quietly do their job behind the scenes.
The control panel gives you convenient access to configure the card's broad range of func-
tions. Its carefully thought-out user interface and intuitive control of all card settings will
make your day-to-day work with the SoundSystem a breeze.
Last but not least.
We hope you enjoy your SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky and would like to suggest that you
browse this hopefully entertaining manual when you get the chance. In addition to the impor-
tant information about its technology, we have outlined a number of typical applications
wherever appropriate. We're convinced that even experienced users will profit from this guide.
Thanks for your attention—enjoy!
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 5
...your TerraTec Team

From opening the package to installation.
Before installing the sound card in your computer, please note the details of your computer's
configuration. Also refer to the manual of your computer and other expansion cards for their
settings.
Please observe the following instructions to ensure a trouble-free installation.
If difficulties arise nevertheless, please reread the relevant chapter in this manual carefully.
If you are still having problems, please call our service hotline. The phone numbers and hours
of the hotline can be found in the Appendix of this documentation.
Start by making sure that nothing is missing.
The scope of delivery of the SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky includes at least the following:
1 PCI sound card TerraTec SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky·
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1 installation and driver CD
1 Quick reference
1 customer service card
1 TerraTec registration card with the serial number
Please return the registration card to us at the earliest possible opportunity or register online
at http://www.terratec.com/register.htm.This is important for support and hot-
line services.
6 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)

Note!
Even if you're a seasoned pro, you should still at least skim the The software. chapter starting
on page 26. The information on drivers and the first sections on the ControlPanel are impor-
tant for your overall understanding of the system. Thank you.
Short and to the point for busy pros.
The SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky is a PCI card that supports Busmastering. Please choose
a PCI slot which is far away from the graphics card(s) or SCSI/RAID controllers—i.e. as
close to the “bottom” as possible in most installations.
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You will also need a number of free address ranges (generally no problem).
The driver installation under Windows (98SE to XP) follows the Microsoft guidelines. The
drivers can be found on the included CD-ROM.
After installing the drivers, open the Device Manager and check for yellow exclamation
marks. If you find any, please see the Appendix (page 38) for our suggested solutions.
You must install the ControlPanel. The full functionality of the SoundSystem cannot be
controlled using the Windows Mixer.
So much for the summary. The following is a detailed, illustrated description of the instal-
lation.
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 7

The connectors of the Aureon 5.1 Sky PCI card
1
6
7
5
4
2
10
9
8
3
11
1. Analog microphone audio input (3.5 mm jack)
2. Analog stereo audio input (3.5 mm jack)
3. Analog stereo audio output “Front” (3.5 mm jack)
4. Analog stereo audio output “Rear” (3.5 mm jack)
5. Analog stereo audio output “Center-LFE”, Left = Center, Right = LFE/Subwoofer (for 3.5
mm mini-jack)
6. Optical digital input
7. Optical digital output
8. Onboard CD-audio input 1 (stereo)
9. Onboard CD-audio input 2 (stereo)
10. Onboard audio input (AUX, stereo)
8 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)
11. Onboard CD-ROM digital audio input (TTL)

Installation - step by step.
Safety note.
Before opening the case, unplug the AC power cable from the wall socket as well as from the PC.
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Switch off your PC and all connected peripheral devices such as your printer and monitor.
Leave the AC cable connected for the time being, so that your computer is still grounded.
Touch the metal chassis at the rear of the PC to ground and to discharge static. Now un-
plug the cord from the AC socket.
Remove the cover from the case of your PC.
Installing the PCI card.
Find a free PCI slot, remove the screw securing the metal cover over the slot and remove
the cover itself. Should it be necessary to break a plate out of the case, do so with great
care to avoid injury.
To ensure the optimal function of your SoundSystem, look for an expansion slot that is
not immediately next to an already-installed card. Some cards, such as video or
SCSI/RAID adapters, can send out signals which can interfere with the sound card.
We also recommend a slot as close to the bottom of the computer as possible, as you can
connect up to 7 audio cables directly to the card itself. Due to certain physical properties
of our planet, it is very likely that these cables will dangle downward. ;-)
Carefully remove the PCI card from its packaging. Pick it up by the edges with one hand
while your other hand is resting on the metal of the PC case. This will ensure that your
body is completely discharged (no joke) via your computer without affecting the card.
Please do not touch the components of the board.
Next, connect the internal cables (e.g. from the CD drive). For further information on the
various connections, please see page 8.
Align the audio card so that the strip with the golden connector pins is located exactly
over the PCI slot. Insert the card into the slot. You might have to press the card firmly into
the slot to make good contact. Take care to ensure that the contacts are precisely in line
in order to avoid damaging the audio card or the motherboard in your PC.
Secure the card with the screw from the slot blanking plate (these screws are generally
also included with PC cases).
Finishing up.
Reinstall the cover of your PC case.
Connect your audio peripherals (hifi amp, active speakers, mixer, etc.) to the Aureon 5.1
Sky (also see chapter “The connections and their uses.” starting on page 24).
Reconnect the AC power cable as well as all other cables and turn your PC on. Make sure
that your speakers or hifi system is set to low volume.
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 9
Start your computer. The installation of the driver software is the next step.

Installing the driver software.
The SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky currently comes with drivers for Windows 98 SE, Windows
ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The card cannot be used under Windows 95 and Win-
dows NT 4. You should therefore determine which operating system you are using before in-
stalling the card.
For information on your operating system and its version number, please check the “System”
dialog in the Windows control panel.
Here you can see which Windows Service Pack version you are using, for example.
In the following driver installation descriptions, <CD> stands for the drive letter of the CD-
ROM drive containing the driver CD of the SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky .
10 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)

Driver installation under Windows 98 SE
After the SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky is installed, Windows 98SE recognizes the card as a
new hardware component and displays the following window.
Click “Next”.
Select here the “Search for the best driver for my device (Recommended)” item and click “Next”.
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 11
Enter the path <CD>:\Drivers\WDM\ and click “OK”. Alternatively, you can also select the path to
the best driver of your Aureon 5.1 Sky using the mouse by clicking “Browse...”.

At the conclusion, click “Finish”.
Windows now performs the driver installation and acknowledges the process with several
windows that can be viewed. Nothing else should be required at this time. If contrary to all
expectations a request should appear for you to perform some action and you are not sure
about it, then pressing the Enter key is generally a safe action.
If Windows requests a second driver file, please refer to the aforementioned directory on the
Aureon 5.1 Sky CD-ROM. It is also possible (e.g. if this is the first sound card installation in
your system) that some additional Windows extensions have to be installed. Please have your
Windows CD ready for this purpose.
Once the drivers have been installed successfully, install the ControlPanel via the autostarter,
then the bundled software.
To do so, execute <CD>:\autorun.exe
Follow the instructions of the individual installation programs, and there's not really a lot that
can go wrong. A particular bundled software can also easily be removed from your system. For
this purpose, call up “Control Panel -> Software” and locate the programs to be removed. Se-
lect the various programs and click “Add/Remove Programs...”.
12 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)

Installed drivers should look like this.
After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows
98SE system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware
components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under
“System”.
If everything is correctly set up, the window should look like this. The figure shows the expanded view of
the “Sound, video and game controllers” branch. To obtain this view, simply click the “+” symbol on the
left side.
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 13

Driver installation under Windows ME.
After the computer restarts and Windows ME detects the new hardware using the Add New
Hardware Wizard, the following window displays.
Select “Specify the location of the driver (Advanced)” and click “Next”.
14 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)
Activate the checkbox “Specify a location:”, enter the path <CD>:\Drivers\WDM\ and click “Next”.
Alternatively, you can change to the respective directory by clicking on “Browse...”.

This screen should be acknowledged by clicking on “Next”.
At the conclusion, click “Finish”.
Once the drivers have been installed successfully, install the ControlPanel via the autostarter,
then the bundled software.
To do so, execute <CD>:\autorun.exe
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 15
Follow the instructions of the individual installation programs, and there's not really a lot that
can go wrong. A particular software can also easily be removed from your system. For this

purpose, call up “Control Panel -> Software” and locate the programs to be removed. Select
the various programs and click “Add/Remove Programs...”.
Installed drivers should look like this.
After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows
ME system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware
components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under
“System” > “Hardware”. Then click the “Device Manager” button.
16 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)
If everything is correctly set up, the window should look like this. The figure shows the expanded view of
the “Sound, video and game controllers” branch. To obtain this view, simply click the “+” symbol on the
left side.

Installation under Windows 2000.
Caution:
Service Pack 3 is required for 24-bit playback.
Once the computer has been restarted, you have logged on as the administrator and the new
hardware has been detected by the Windows 2000 hardware wizard, the following window
will appear.
Click “Next”.
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 17
Select the “Search for a suitable driver for my device (Recommended)” item and click “Next”.

Activate the checkbox “CD-ROM drives” and click “Next”.
This screen should be acknowledged by clicking on “Next”.
18 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)

Continue the installation by clicking on “Yes”.
It is possible that such a dialog window appears again in the course of the installation. If this
is the case, simply click “Yes”.
Windows now performs the driver installation and acknowledges the process with several
windows that can be viewed. Nothing else should be required at this time. If contrary to all
expectations a request should appear for you to perform some action and you are not sure
about it, then pressing the Enter key is generally a safe action.
If Windows requests a second driver file, please refer to the aforementioned directory on the
Aureon 5.1 Sky CD-ROM.
Once the drivers have been installed successfully, install the ControlPanel via the autostarter,
then the bundled software.
To do so, execute <CD>:\autorun.exe
SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English) 19
Follow the instructions of the individual installation programs, and there's not really a lot that
can go wrong. A particular software can also easily be removed from your system. For this
purpose, call up “Control Panel -> Software” and locate the programs to be removed. Select
the various programs and click “Add/Remove Programs...”.

Installed drivers should look like this.
After a successful driver installation, you should verify the correct condition of your Windows
2000 system. The Device Manager presents an overview of installed and recognized hardware
components of your computer. The Device Manager can be found on the Control Panel under
“System” > “Hardware”. Then click the “Device Manager” button.
If everything is correctly set up, the window should look like this. The figure shows the expanded view of
the “Sound, video and game controllers” branch. To obtain this view, simply click the “+” symbol on the
left side.
20 SoundSystem Aureon 5.1 Sky (English)