Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi User manual

Brand: Creative

Model: Sound Blaster X-Fi

Category: Audio cards

Type: 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

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

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.

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.

CreativeProprietaryconnector

ProvidesaproprietaryconnectionforCreativedevices.Donotusethisconnectorunlessinstructedtodoso.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

X-FiCMSS-

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

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.

OpticalSPDIFIn

jack

Connectplaybackdeviceswithopticaljacks(forexample,MiniDiscplayers,DigitalAudioTape

playersorDVDplayers)tothisjack.

CoaxialSPDIFIn

jack

Connectplaybackdeviceswithcoaxialjacks(forexample,MiniDiscplayers,DigitalAudioTape

orDVDplayers)tothisjack.

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

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.

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.

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.

MiniMIDI

In/Out

connectors

ConnectMIDIdevicestotheseconnectorsusingmini-MIDI-to-standard-MIDIadaptercables*.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi User manual

Brand: Creative

Model: Sound Blaster X-Fi

Category: Audio cards

Type: User manual

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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi User manual

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi User manual

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