Creative Audigy 4 Manual

							4
Using Applications
This chapter tells you which applications to use for content 
creation, gaming and entertainment purposes. 
						

							Using Applications 4-1
Using Applications
Sound Blaster Audigy offers you high-quality multimedia playback, digital 
entertainment, content creation capability, Internet entertainment and gaming. 
The following pages tell you which applications would best suit your needs.
Multimedia 
Playback
Watching DVDsYou may enjoy 5.1 Dolby Digital sound output from DVD movies encoded with 
Dolby Digital sound in one of two ways with Sound Blaster Audigy.
1.  Output the encoded Dolby Digital signal to an external Dolby Digital\
 (AC-3) 
decoder; such as the Creative Inspire 5700 speaker system,  Cambridge 
SoundWorks DTT2500, PlayWorks DTT2500, or DTT3500 Digital speaker systems, 
or an AV receiver with a Dolby Digital decoder.
2.  Dolby Digital (AC-3) sound can also be decoded by Sound Blaster Au\
digy and 
sent out as analog audio through Line Out 1, Line Out 2, and Digital/Ana\
log jacks 
of the sound card.
In both cases you will need a second generation DVD-ROM drive, and a software 
DVD player (such as InterVideos WinDVD or Cyberlinks PowerDVD).  SPDIF 
Output must be enabled in the audio properties of the software DVD player so that 
the Dolby Digital signal can be sent to Sound Blaster Audigy.  
If the Dolby Digital signal is to be decoded by an external decoder, AC-3 decoding 
must be disabled in the Speaker - Settings section of Surround Mixer. For more 
information, refer to the Creative Surround Mixer online Help.
Some software DVD player 
versions m ay not decode 
5.1 output, but can pass the 
S/PDIF output to an external 
device. You may enable 
SPDIF output in the audio 
properties of these 
applications to allow Sound 
Blaster Audigy to decode a 
Dolby Digital signal. 
						

							Using Applications 4-2
Playing MP3 or 
WMA filesCreative PlayCenter supports and plays MP3 and WMA files.
Playing back Wave 
and CD Audio filesUse Creative PlayCenter to play back both Wave and CD Audio files. WAV is the 
format for digital audio files on the Windows operating platform. CD Audio refers to 
audio compact discs that can be played on your CD-ROM drive.
Playing MIDI filesMIDI (*.MID) is a music format that uses an internal synthesizer for playback. Use 
Creative PlayCenter in the Sound Blaster Audigy Installation CD for playing MIDI 
files.
Creating non- 
General-MIDI- 
compliant filesMany musicians have created music files that use exotic or non-regular instrument 
(non General MIDI compliant) using Vienna Soundfont Studio. These instruments 
are stored in SoundFont banks. Such MIDI files can be played back using Creative 
PlayCenter. The Sound Blaster Audigy Installation CD contains many MIDI demos 
that use high quality SoundFont banks.
Digital 
Entertainment
Watching surround 
moviesIf you want to enjoy high quality movie entertainment, ensure you have good 
speakers. If you have a 4- or 5-speaker system connected to your Sound Blaster 
Audigy, configure your speaker setup in Creative Surround Mixer. For DVD movies, 
it is recommended that you purchase Creative PC-DVD Encore, a digital home 
entertainment system, as well as Creative Inspire 5.1 Digital Speakers. 
						

							Using Applications 4-3
Compiling personal 
albumsYou can compile albums containing CD Audio, WAV or MIDI files using Creative 
PlayCenter.
Content 
Creation
Applying voice 
effectsWhen singing and recording your own songs, you can enhance your voice, or even 
add special effects. You can do this with EAX Control, which can be accessed from 
Creative Surround Mixer.
Recording sound 
and effectsCreative Recorder is an easy way of recording any audio source without worrying 
about mixer settings. You can also record any audio effects.
Capturing and 
editing videosUsing digital video applications such as Ulead VideoStudio allows you to capture 
and edit your videos, then output them to popular formats like AVI, QT, MOV or 
MPEG.
Advanced 
Content 
Creation
Recording multi-
tracks with ASIOYou can create a home music studio using software MIDI sequencers such as 
Cubasis VST. It lets you put together your own productions consisting of multiple 
music tracks from a MIDI Synthesizer (internal or external), your guitar or external 
musical instrument (Line-In), a digital device (SPDIF), or a microphone. ASIO  
						

							Using Applications 4-4
support allows you to create all these with amazingly low latency (solving multi-
track sync up issues).
Creating musicYou can create desktop music on your Sound Blaster Audigy using Cubasis VST. 
Hook up a MIDI controller keyboard to the MIDI/Joystick port and you instantly 
have a high quality synthesizer with this software. The sequencing software 
provided also lets you compose your own music compositions and arrangements.
Recording and 
transcribing musicUsing Cubasis VST, you can record your own music and do musical notation 
transcriptions. You can even print your own music score.
Recording and 
editing musical 
instrumentsYou can record any sound effects or sample loops and then use them as a MIDI 
instrument — all using Vienna SoundFont Studio. You can also edit existing 
SoundFont banks.
Recording digital 
audioYou can do digital recording and editing (16-bit, 48 kHz) on your computer with 
Sound Blaster Audigy using Creative Wave Studio. Connect any SPDIF compatible 
device such as a DAT deck and select CD Digital in Creative Surround Mixer.
Creating multiple 
effectsSound Blaster Audigy comes with a variety of effects that are programmable. You 
can literally create thousands of reverb and other special effects in EAX Control, 
which can be accessed from Creative Surround Mixer.
Creating and playing 
back SoundFontsWith Creatives SoundFont technology, you have limitless sound creation 
possibilities for use with your own music. Create your own SoundFont banks in 
Vienna SF Studio to convert drum loops to Soundfont banks. 
						

							Using Applications 4-5
Internet 
Entertainment
Encoding CD songs 
to MP3 formatWith Creative PlayCenter, you can encode and record all your favorite CD songs 
into your computer’s hard drive, so that you have a database of customized song 
lists.
Downloading and 
playing MP3 songsWith Creative PlayCenter, you can add current songs to your database by 
downloading them from various sites on the Internet.
Playing MP3 songs 
with EAX 
ADVANCED HDUse Creative PlayCenter to create MP3 renditions with multi-dimensional and multi-
textured realism by adding environments such as “concert hall” or “bathroom”! You 
can share these enhanced MP3 songs, even with someone who does not own a 
Sound Blaster Audigy card.
Gaming 
Reference
Enjoying EAX 
ADVANCED HD 
supportEnjoy the many EAX ADVANCED HD titles designed by top game developers, which 
immerse you in realistic environments. Visit http://www.eax.creative.com for a full 
list of compatible titles. 
						

							Using Applications 4-6
Enjoying 
DirectSound3D 
supportDirectSound3D (DS3D) games are supported on your Sound Blaster Audigy. You 
can hear sounds positioned in 3D space that enhance your game experience.
Enjoying A3D 1.0 
supportYour card translates A3D calls into DirectSound3D, meaning that you can enjoy A3D 
games.
Customizing 
environments for 
non-3D gamesYou can create customized environments for your non-EAX ADVANCED HD games 
using the EAX Control panel, which can be accessed from Creative Surround Mixer. 
						

							A
General Specifications
This section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster 
Audigy card. 
						

							General Specifications A-1
General Specifications
This section lists the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy (SB1394) or 
Sound Blaster Audigy (non-SB1394) cards, and Joystick/MIDI bracket for Sound 
Blaster Audigy (SB1394).
Features
PCI Bus Mastering❑
Half-length PCI Specification Version 2.1 compliant
❑
Bus mastering reduces latency and speeds up system performance
Audigy Processor❑
Advanced hardware accelerated digital effects processing
❑
32-bit digital processing, which maintains a 192 dB dynamic range
❑
Patented 8-point interpolation that reduces distortion to inaudible levels
❑
64-voice hardware wavetable synthesizer
❑
Professional quality digital mixing and equalization
❑
Unlimited size of SoundFont bank can be mapped to host memory (limited by 
available system memory)
High Quality Audio 
Path❑
Mixes analog sources such as CD Audio, Line in, Auxiliary, TAD and PC speaker, 
Microphone in via AC’97 Codec with internal digital sources
❑
Playback of 64 audio channels, each at an arbitrary sample rate
❑
32-bit mixing of all digital sources within Audigy’s Digital Mixer
❑
24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 48 kHz sample rate
❑
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 48 kHz to analog 5.1 
speaker output
❑
16-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz 
						

							General Specifications A-2
Professional Digital 
Audio Processing❑Supports Sony/Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) format input signal of up to 24-
bit/96 kHz quality
❑SPDIF output up to 24-bit resolution at selectable sampling rate of 44.1, 48 or 96 
kHz
Note:  SPDIF output not available during playback of protected digital audio contents 
authored with DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology
❑Selectable 6-channel SPDIF output to external amplifier/digital speaker systems
❑Software switching of SPDIF Input-to-Output (bypass) to minimize cable 
connection hassle (with Audigy Drive upgrade option)
❑Low latency multitrack recording with ASIO support
Flexible Mixer Control❑Software playback control of CD Audio, Line In, Auxiliary, TAD, PC speaker, 
Microphone In, Wave/DirectSound device, MIDI device and CD Digital (CD SPDIF)
❑Software recording control of Analog Mix (sum of CD Audio, Line In, Auxiliary, 
TAD, PC speaker) Microphone In, Wave/DirectSound device, MIDI device and CD 
Digital (CD SPDIF)
❑Selectable input source or mixing of various audio sources for recording
❑Adjustable master volume control
❑Separate bass and treble control
❑Front and rear balance control
❑Muting and panning control for mixer sources
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 
Decoding❑Decodes Dolby Digital (AC-3) to 5.1 channels or will pass uncompressed Dolby 
Digital bitstream to an external decoder
❑Bass redirection: redirects bass to a subwoofer when the subwoofer is 
independent of the satellite speaker system
❑Crossover bass frequency (10–200 Hz): adjustable to standalone subwoofer units 
for desired bass level
❑Adjustable Center and LFE level control