Introduction Thank you for purchasing Creative's high performance audio solution, Sound Blaster® Audigy® 5/Rx! High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment Featuring 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback, the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx audio card delivers highdefinition sound of astounding quality and 24-bit/96 kHz audio recording capability from line level.
About Your Hardware Visit www.soundblaster.com for the latest Sound Blaster news and products. Your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of devices: Model: SB1550 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jack or Connector Description 1. Mic 1 Connects to a Mono microphone input 1 2. Mic 2 Connects to a Mono microphone input 2 3. Line In Connects to analog line level output from other devices like music synthesizers 4.
Installing and Uninstalling Software To take full advantage of your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx, you need to install device drivers and applications. At times, you may also need to uninstall some or all of the device drivers and applications to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications.
Notes l l First-time users of Creative Software AutoUpdate may be prompted to authorize the download of a browser component required for system inspection. Ensure that the content is signed by Creative Labs, Inc., then click the Yes button. Ensure that all your Creative products are connected and installed on the same computer running Creative Software AutoUpdate.
Reinstalling/Uninstalling Applications and Device Drivers At times you may need to reinstall some or all of the audio applications and device drivers to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications. Before you begin, close all audio card applications. Applications that are still running during the uninstallation will not be removed. Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications For Windows 8: 1. Click the Desktop tile on the start screen.
Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications For Windows 8: 1. Click the Desktop tile on the start screen. At the right toolbar, go to Settings Uninstall a Program. Control Panel 2. Select the Sound Blaster Audigy 5_Audigy Rx entry or your audio device's entry. 3. Click the Uninstall/Change button. 4. To remove: i. All drivers and applications: On the InstallShield Wizard dialog box, click the Remove All option, and then click the Yes button. ii.
Connecting Related Peripherals Your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx will give you endless hours of karaoke singing and listening pleasure. To connect related peripherals, refer to the corresponding sections. l Enjoying Online Karaoke l Creating Music l Listening to Music l Watching DVDs The cables shown here are available separately.
Creating Music You can set up a home music studio using your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. Put together your own productions consisting of multiple music tracks from a MIDI Synthesizer, an electric guitar or a microphone. Alternatively, connect your electric guitar using a Pre-amp Box to the Line In jack. Use a convertor if your electric guitar comes with a larger connector. 1 2 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Mic In jack Connects to a microphone. 2.
Listening to Music You can connect stereo headphones to the Line Out 1 jack on your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. Use a convertor if your headphones come with a larger connector. 1 1. Jack, Connector or Cable Description Line Out 1 jack Connects to stereo headphones with a 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) jack.
Watching DVDs You can connect your multichannel speaker system to your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx audio card, to enjoy watching your favorite DVDs. 1 4 6 5 2 AUDIO INPUTS AUDIO INPUTS 8 3 7 5.1 - 7.1 UPMIX DIRECT 6.1 - 7.1 UPMIX REAR FRONT AUDIO INPUTS AUDIO INPUTS SIDE CENTER/ SUBWOOFER AUDIO CONTROL POD FRONT CENTER SPEAKER FRONT RIGHT SPEAKERS FRONT SIDE SIDE REAR REAR LEFT SPEAKERS Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1.
Notes l Depending on the number of output channels on your external decoder or AV Amplifier, you can connect up to 7.1 speaker systems to your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. For more information, refer to the User's Guide of your speaker system.
Connecting a multichannel AV Amplifier l l If you have a multichannel AV Amplifier, connect it directly to the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx audio card's Line Out 1, Line Out 2 and Line Out 3 jacks as shown below. For more information on multichannel AV Amplifier speaker connections, consult the User's Guide of your AV Amplifier. For more information on the appropriate jacks to use, see Connecting Speakers. 1 2 3 4 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1.
5 4 1 3 2 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Side Right connector Connects to the Line Out 2 jack on your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. 2. Line Out 2 jack Connects to the Rear Left, Rear Right and Side Right connectors on an AV Amplifier. 3. 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereoto-RCA cable (available separately) Connects the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx and AV Amplifier. 4. Rear Right connector Connects to the Line Out 2 jack on the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx 5.
2 1 3 5 4 Jack, Connector or Cable Description 1. Side Left connector Connects to the Line Out 3 jack on the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. 2. Center connector Connects to the Line Out 3 jack on the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. 3. Subwoofer connector Connects to the Line Out 3 jack on the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. 4. Line Out 3 jack Connects to the Side Left, Center and Subwoofer connectors on an AV Amplifier. 5. 3.
Connecting Speakers The connectors and associated components shown here may be different from that of your speaker system. Consult the User's Guide of your speaker system to identify similar input connectors.
Positioning Your Speakers Good speaker placement is crucial to getting optimal performance from your audio system and achieving an enhanced listening experience. Below are our recommendation for 5.1 and 7.1 channel speakers. For detailed speaker placement tips, consult the documentation of your speaker system. For 5.1 channel speakers: Speaker Component 1. Subwoofer 2. Front Left 3. Front Center 4. Front Right 5. Rear Left 6.
For 7.1 channel speakers: Speaker Component 1. Subwoofer 2. Front left 3. Front Center 4. Front Right 5. Side Left 6. Side Right 7 Rear Left 8 Rear Right Notes l If you have a 5.1 channel or 7.1 channel speaker system, you can upmix your stereo sources (for example, CD Audio, MP3, WMA, MIDI, and Wave) to the respective channels by using Creative MultiSpeaker Surround (CMSS) technology.
Connecting Digital Speaker Systems You can connect generic digital speaker systems to your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. Generic digital speakers 2 3 1 optical in speakers optical in digital in Device/Cable 1. Optical Out jack 2. Optical cable (available separately) 3.
Connecting Analog Speaker Systems You can connect analog speakers systems of up to 7.1 channels. To learn more about connecting different channel speaker systems, consult the following sections: l 2.1 channel analog speakers l 4.1 channel analog speakers l 5.1 channel analog speakers l 7.1 channel analog speakers 2.1 channel analog speakers 2 1 audio inputs audio inputs 3 speakers Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Line Out 1 jack 2. 2 channel audio cable (available separately) 3.
4.1 channel analog speakers 3 1 2 5 4 audio inputs rear front front speakers audio inputs rear front rear speakers Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Front (Line Out 1) jack 2. Rear (Line Out 2) jack 3. 4 channel audio cable (available separately) 4. Front (Audio Input) jack 5.
5.1 channel analog speakers 4 5 1 6 2 7 3 audio inputs front rear center/ subwoofer front speakers audio inputs center speaker front rear center/ subwoofer rear speakers Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Line Out 1 jack 2. Line Out 2 jack 3. Line Out 3 jack 4. 5.1 channel audio cable (available separately) 5. Front (Audio Input) connector 6. Rear (Audio Input) connector 7.
7.1 channel analog speakers 1 4 6 5 2 AUDIO INPUTS AUDIO INPUTS 8 3 7 5.1 - 7.1 UPMIX DIRECT 6.1 - 7.1 UPMIX REAR FRONT AUDIO INPUTS AUDIO INPUTS SIDE CENTER/ SUBWOOFER AUDIO CONTROL POD FRONT CENTER SPEAKER FRONT RIGHT SPEAKERS FRONT SIDE SIDE REAR REAR LEFT SPEAKERS Jack, Connector or Cable 1. Line Out 1 jack 2. Line Out 2 jack 3. Line Out 3 jack 4. 7.1 channel audio cable (available separately) 5. Front (Audio Input) connector 6. Rear (Audio Input) connector 7.
Connectivity Audio Inputs /Outputs l Two 3.5mm (1/8-inch) Mono Microphone Inputs l One 3.5mm (1/8-inch) Line Input l One 3.5mm (1/8-inch) Front speaker Left/Right or Amplified Headphone Out l One 3.5mm (1/8-inch) Rear Left/Right / Side Right Output for 4/4.1, 5.1, 7.1 for analog audio output l One 3.
Stereo and 4-Pole Jack Diagrams 5.1 channel analog audio 1 2 3 4 7 10 5 8 11 6 9 12 5.1 channel analog audio 1. Line Out 1 jack 2. Line Out 2 jack 3. Line Out 3 jack 4. Front Left 5. Front Right 6. Ground 7. Rear Left 8. Rear Right 9. Ground 10. Center 11. Subwoofer 12.
7.1 channel analog audio 1 2 3 4 11 5 12 6 13 14 7 9 8 10 7.1 channel analog audio 1. Line Out 1 jack 2. Line Out 2 jack 3. Line Out 3 jack 4. Front Left 5. Front Right 6. Ground 7. Rear Left 8. Rear Right 9. Ground 10. Side Right 11. Center 12. Subwoofer 13. Ground 14.
Using Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Applications The following softwares are designed for you to access the basic as well as the advanced features of your audio card. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with their functions in order to make full use of the rich features of Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx. To learn more about each application, please refer to its online help. Depending on the application, you can do this by clicking menu.
Using Your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel The SB Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel provides navigation of Karaoke centric functions such as mic monitoring and stereo mixing, reverb and pitch shift effects, switching between singing and chatting — all in an easy-to-use interface. Online Karaoke Settings You can now easily toggle between Sing Mode or Chat Mode. Switch between Sing Mode and Chat Mode at any time and it will take effect immediately. Choose only one mode at a time.
Speakers & SPDIF I/O Settings Selecting a speaker configuration 1. Click the Speakers & SPDIF I/O tab. 2. On the Speaker / Headphone Selection dropdown list, select a speaker configuration that you want. 3. Only for Windows XP users: To ensure that your speaker settings are always synchronized with Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel and Windows Control Panel, click the Synchronize with Microsoft Windows Control Panel checkbox.
EAX Settings The EAX tab allows you: l To launch the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio application. l To manage the various parameters of your effects l To select factory presets and customize them into personalized effects Applying EAX audio effects 1. On the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel, click the EAX tab. 2. On the left column, select the audio effect category that you want. 3. On the Active Preset dropdown list, click the preset that you want to apply to your audio.
CMSS 3D Settings CMSS 3D allows you: l l To enable or disable CMSS 3D Surround. To select Creative Multi Speaker Surround (CMSS®)for an enhanced soundfield for playback of stereo or multichannel audio content. You can enjoy rich 3D virtual surround sound with headphones or 2-speaker systems, and expanded multi-channel sound with 4/4.1, 5.1 or 7.1 speaker systems. l To select Stereo Surround to duplicate the front channel audio to all surround speakers.
l l CMSS delivers rich 3D virtual surround sound with headphones or 2-speaker system, and multichannel audio playback with 4.1, 5.1 or 7.1 speaker systems. Stereo Surround duplicates the front channel audio to all surround speakers without any artificial enhancements.
Stereo Direct / Bit Accurate Settings Enabling Stereo Direct / Bit Accurate mode allows you to play back audio data directly from the source without any audio enhancements or modifications. Enabling Stereo Direct / Bit Accurate mode 1. On Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel, click the Speaker & SPDIF I/O tab. Ensure that the Speaker/Headphone Selection is set to 2/2.1 Speakers. 2. Click the Stereo Direct/Bit Accurate tab. 3. Click the Enable Stereo Direct/Bit Accurate Playback checkbox. 4.
Device Information Settings Three devices are shown on the Device Information page. This page shows the settings of your Wave Device, MIDI Device and Mixer Device.
Restore Defaults Settings Restoring default settings 1. Click the Restore Defaults tab. 2. The right panel shows three defaults, the Speakers, EAX, and Mixer checkboxes. To restore any of these to their default settings: i. Click the Speakers checkbox. The default setting is the selected speaker configuration during installation. ii. Click the EAX checkbox. The default audio effects setting is the No Effects preset. iii. Click the Mixer checkbox. All mixer levels are set to factory default settings. 3.
Using Your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio offers dramatically increased 3D audio performance and functionality, delivering superior audio fidelity and fully customizable environmental effects with import and export functions, for an unsurpassed karaoke experience. Launching Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio: 1. Go to Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel, and click the EAX tab. 2. Click the button.
Managing your Audio Effects Settings On the Audio Effects panel, you can save, delete, import and export audio effects. Importing an Audio Effect into the Audio Effects list 1. Go to Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio ton. Audio Effects panel and, click the Import but- 2. On the Import dialog box, select the .AUP file that has the audio effect you want to import. Exporting the last-saved Audio Effect into a file 1. Go to Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio ton.
2. Click the Select File button. 3. On the Select Wave File to Audition dialog box, click the Wave file you want, and then click the OK button. 4. Click the Test button found on either the Master page or Source page. 5. The selected Wave file will play continuously until you click the Stop button. Testing the effect on Master settings 1. On the Master page, click the audio effect you want to test, and then click the effect to change. 2. Drag slider to determine the value you want.
Master Effects Settings On the Master tab you can define your audio effects by specifying the effects and their Master settings. This page allows you: l To add to or remove effects from an audio effect l To specify the effect Type, and the degree or Amount of the effect l To control an effect all the way down to its building block or Parameter level Configuring the Master settings for the Effects of an Audio Effect 1.
3. Click the OK button. The added effect would appear on the Effects list. A maximum of four Effects can be applied. 4. Repeat Steps 1 - 3 until you are satisfied with the configuration, then save the settings of an audio effect. Changing the Type of Effect 1. Click the Type entry on the Effects list 2. Select from the dropdown list. Playing the Effect-applied sound into another channel 1. Click the Play Into entry on the Effects list. 2. Select from the dropdown list.
Source Effects Settings The Source tab allows you to set the amount of the effects to apply on an audio source. Changing the Amount of the Effects for an audio source 1. On Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio, click the Source tab. 2. On the Select Source box, click the source whose effect amount you want to modify. l l Repeat Step 2 for as many audio sources as you want to configure. You can test the effect on the Audio source and change its amount, see Managing Your Audio Effects Settings. 3.
MIDI Settings On the MIDI page, you can map effects for MIDI playback. This page allows you l To set the effect amount l To insert the controller command when you are authoring a MIDI file in a MIDI sequencer program Configuring effects for MIDI playback 1. On Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio, click the MIDI tab. 2. To assign a MIDI controller to an effect, click the Controller value on the Effects list and select from the dropdown list. 3.
Options Settings The Options tab allows you to select an Audio Device and set Preferences Selecting the Audio Device 1. On Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio, click the Options tab. 2. From the Audio Device dropdown list, click the device you want to use. The device is immediately selected. Testing a Wave file 1. On Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx EAX Studio, click the Options tab. 2. Click the Select File button. 3.
Modifying an Audio Effect's Parameters The parameters for a particular type of effect and their values appear on the Parameter list of the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box. To open the dialog box, on the Effects list double-click the specific Effect entry you want to modify. Alternatively, you can also click the Parameters button. Modifying, Testing and Saving a Parameter 1. On the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box, select a Parameter you want to modify. 2.
l l l The other effects (excluding Original Sound) on the Master page will be reset to zero. The effects will go back to their original amounts when you quit the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box. When modifying an effect such as Pitch Shifter, you do not want the "dry" sound, only the "wet" sound; that is, you want only the shifted pitch and not the original pitch as well. To get this effect, select the Wet Only checkbox on the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box.
Using Systray Quick Access The Systray Quick Access software provides basic Pitch Shift and Mic volume control via the system tray using hotkeys. You can quickly adjust the music key to suit your vocal range and make your voice sound good on the mic at the same time change your mic's volume during karaoke singing sessions. Systray Quick Access works in conjunction with Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx Control Panel. Launching Systray Quick Access 1.
Creative Diagnostics Creative Diagnostics is a simple but useful program for diagnosing and fixing any problems that you may have with your audio hardware. The diagnostic tests will check that the audio hardware is detected, the audio drivers are working, and the mixer settings are correct. A speaker test is also provided to let you test the physical connections from the audio hardware to the speakers. If the tests detect problems, Creative Diagnostics will provide solutions.
General Specifications This section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx audio card. PCI Bus Mastering l PCI Express Base 1.
l l l l Environment Panning™ makes it easy for gamers to track, with three-dimensional precision, the location and movement of sounds that usually represent enemies or team mates. This gives Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx gamers a better advantage as they are more "attuned" to the game scenario. Environment Reflections™ offers localization of early reflections and echoes. Environment Filtering™ accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed environments.
Troubleshooting and FAQs This section provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use. It has been divided into a few categories for your easy reference. l Problems with Sound l Problems with Sound and CD-ROMs l Problems with Multiple Audio Cards/Devices l Problems with Digital Audio Devices If you have any other technical problems with this product, you can also consult our self-help tool "Knowledge Base" for online troubleshooting and solutions.
l l l The speakers' volume control knob, if any, is set at mid-range. Use Windows Volume Control to adjust the volume, if necessary. The powered speakers or external amplifier are connected to the card's Line Out or Rear Out jack. There is no hardware conflict between the card and a peripheral device. See Problems with Digital Audio Devices. Panning a source sometimes turns off its sound.
Make sure you select the sampling rate of the PCM SPDIF output of your Digital I/O jack to match the requirements of the receiving device. You may need to select a lower digital output sampling rate. The choices available are 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz and 96 kHz. To solve this problem: 1. Go to Start Programs Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 5_Audigy Rx Audigy 5_Rx Control Panel, and click the Speakers & SPDIF I/O tab. Sound Blaster 2. Select the required sampling rate from the Digital Output Sampling Rate list.
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