Copyright: Copyright © 1998-2001 Creative Technology, Ltd.   Creative EAX Control Help (UDA) - Version 1.1
Citation: Copyright © 1998-2001 Creative Technology, Ltd.


What is EAX Control?

This applet allows you to configure the audio processor's effects engine.

It allows you to specify to a low level the components that make up the audio elements that in turn make up an audio effect.

It promises to deliver sounds that are so life-like, you can almost see them! It is the PC industry's first system that recreates and delivers real-world, interactive audio experiences in games, music, and other audio applications. These audio effects take your PC beyond home-theater quality, immersing PC users in sound so vivid your imagination can almost "see it". It goes beyond today's surround-sound and 3D positional audio to actually model an environment with powerful effects that take into account room size, acoustic properties, reverb, echo and many other effects that create a real-world experience.


How Audio Effects Work

Using the power behind the Sound Blaster's audio processor, environments are constructed using X, Y, Z coordinates as well as reverberation and reflection cues to determine spatial information. These coordinates are used as the basic framework for channeling audio sources and effects to "paint" the audio scene. The audio environment really benefits from the use of more than two speakers, thereby widening the sweet spot to effectively create the most realistic experience.

The processing power needed to make the experience so intense and realistic requires the ability to route any audio source through multiple audio channels and add effects in real time. The Audio Effects Processor, designed and developed at the joint Creative/E-mu Technology Center, can do this and much more. Using multiple speakers, the Audio Effects Processor accurately recreates and produces sounds as if they really originate from different sources. It can also produce the acoustical features [image] such as reverberation [image] associated with a specific room, chamber, cave, tunnel, underwater channel, and so on.

At a minimum, support cues for distance, room size and reverberation must be achieved for a "real" experience. The user needs more than just 3D positional audio because the human ear does not just hear the origin of sounds, it also judges distance and resolves location and volume from many audio cues.

The audio device also supports multiple environmental modelling. Experience a new level of surround sound coupled with awesome effects. Be the first to enjoy multiple environmental modelling in future games and applications.


If You've Used AWE Control Before ...

The Effects tabbed page has been expanded into an applet:

The number of effects has expanded considerably beyond Reverb and Chorus.

AWE Control allows you only to select the effect type. EAX Control goes a step further: it allows you to create custom effect types by tweaking the effect parameters. And you can delete the types you do not want anymore.


Configuring Master Effects

On the Master tabbed page, you can define your audio effects by specifying the effects and their master settings. This page allows you to add to or remove effects from an audio effect, to specify the effect type, and the degree or amount of the effect. It also allows you to control an effect all the way down to its building block or parameter level.

If the Always Save Settings Automatically check box on the Options tabbed page is selected, your revised settings will be saved when you quit from the EAX Control applet. You cannot revert an audio effect to its last saved settings unless you clear this check box.

To configure the master settings for the effects of an audio effect

1	In the EAX Control dialog box, in the Audio Effects section, click the left box and then select the audio effect category that you want.

2	Click the right box and then select the audio effect that you want to modify.

For a factory audio effect, you can use it as a basis to create a user-defined audio effect. However, you cannot save over or delete a factory audio effect [image] the Save and Delete buttons will be unavailable.

For a predefined audio effect, you can revise it and save under the same name, in effect saving it over itself.

After you have used a factory audio effect as a basis for your own revisions, save the revised settings as a user-defined audio effect by typing a new name or the name of an existing user-defined audio effect in the right box in the Audio Effects section and then click the Save button.

3	Click the Master tab.

4	To add an effect to the audio effect
Click the Add button, select one or more effects from the Add Effect dialog box, and then click the OK button.
The added effect appears in the Effects list.

To change the type of effect
Click the Type entry in the Effects list and select from the drop-down list displayed.

To play the effect-applied sound into another channel
Click the Play Into entry in the Effects list, and select from the drop-down list displayed.

To audition an effect and change its amount
See Auditioning Effects.

To change an effect's parameters
Double-click the effect.
Or
Click the effect and then click the Parameters button. See Editing an Effect's Parameters for details.

To remove an effect from the audio effect
Click the effect, and then click the Remove button. You cannot remove Original Sound, Reverb and Chorus.

5	Repeat Step 4 until you are satisfied with the configuration. Then save the settings into the current audio effect or, in the case of a factory audio effect, save the settings as a new user-defined audio effect by typing a new name or the name of an existing user-defined audio effect in the right box in the Audio Effects section and then click the Save button.

If you do not want the audio effect anymore, click the Delete button.

Notes

To set the amount of effects to apply at the audio source level, go to the Source tabbed page.

The overall amount settings for effects is a combination of the master effects settings and the source effects settings.

 Related Topics


Turning Off All Effects

You may want to turn off all effects if you find that you have changed the effects amounts to unacceptable levels, producing unwelcome distortion. This option is a shortcut to manually resetting the amount of each effect except for Original Sound.

To turn off all effects for the current audio effect

On the Master tabbed page of the EAX dialog box, click the All Effects Off button.

All other effects except Original Sound will be turned off, that is, their amounts will be set to 0%. You can start adjusting with the level of the effects again.


Configuring Source Effects

On the Source tabbed page, you can set the amount of the effects to apply on an audio source.

If the Always Save Settings Automatically check box on the Options tabbed page is selected, your revised settings will be saved when you quit from the EAX Control applet. You cannot change an audio effect back to its original settings unless you clear this check box.

To change the amount of the effects for an audio source

1	In the EAX Control dialog box, click the Source tab.

2	In the Select Source box, click the source whose effect amount you want to change.

3	To audition the effect to apply to the source and to change its amount, see Auditioning Effects.

4	Repeat steps 2 and 3 for as many audio sources as you want to configure.

5	When you are satisfied with the configuration, save the settings into the current audio effect or, in the case of a factory audio effect, save the settings as a new audio effect by typing a new name or the name of an existing user-defined audio effect in the right box in the Audio Effects section and then click the Save button.

If you do not want the audio effect anymore, click the Delete button.

Notes

You cannot add effects to an audio effect, remove them or change their parameters from here. To do so, go to the Master tabbed page.

The overall amount settings for effects is a combination of the master effects settings and the source effects settings.

 Related Topics


Configuring MIDI Playback Effects

On the MIDI tabbed page, you can map effects for MIDI playback. To set the effect amount, insert the controller command when you are authoring a MIDI file in a MIDI sequencer program.

To configure effects for MIDI playback

1	In the EAX Control dialog box, click the MIDI tab.

2	To assign a MIDI controller to an effect, click the Controller value in the Effects list and select from the drop-down list displayed.

To change the effect amount, go to a MIDI sequencer program to specify the Controller value when you insert the controller command.

3	To assign another MIDI controller to an effect, repeat step 2.

4	When you are satisfied with the configuration, save the settings into the current audio effect or in the case of a factory audio effect, save the settings as a new audio effect by typing a new name or the name of an existing user-defined audio effect in the right box in the Audio Effects section and then click the Save button.

 Related Topics


Editing an Effect's Parameters

The parameters for a particular type of effect and their values appear in the Parameter list of the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box. To get to the dialog box, double-click the effect in the Effects list.

Note

If you select another type from the Type box, you will have changed the type associated with the effect on the Master tabbed page.

To configure an effect

1	If a Wave file is already open for audition, go to Step 4. Otherwise, In the EAX Control dialog box, click the Options tab.

2	Click the Select File button.

3	In 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 on either the EAX Control dialog box or the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box.
The selected Wave file will play continuously until you click the Stop button.

5	To change the value of a parameter, select the parameter and move the slider at the bottom of the dialog box.

When auditioning an effect, you may want to concentrate on it in the absence of other effects for a "true" representation. To do so, make sure the Solo check box is selected.
The other effects (excluding Original Sound) on the Master tabbed 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 you edit an effect such as Pitch Shifter, you do not want the "dry" sound [image] only the "wet" sound; that is, you want only the shifted pitch and not the original pitch as well. To get this, make sure the Wet Only check box is selected.
On the Master tabbed page, Original Sound will be reset to zero. It will go back to its original amount when you quit the Edit Effect Parameters dialog box.

If you want to reset to the parameter's default value, click the Default button.

6	Repeat Step 5 for as many parameters as you want to change.

7	When you are satisfied with the configuration, save the settings into the current type or, in the case of a factory type, save the settings as a new type by typing a new name or the name of an existing custom type in the Type box, and then click the Save button.

8	Click the Stop button to stop the Wave file playback, and then click the OK button to close the dialog box.
The items in the Effects list return to their normal values.


Auditioning Effects

To audition effects, you must use a Wave file as the testbed. You can audition the master and the source settings of the effects of an audio effect. You can also audition an effect as you are creating or editing it.

To audition the effects of an audio effect

1	If a Wave file is already open for audition, go to Step 4. Otherwise, in the EAX Control dialog box, click the Options tab.

2	Click the Select File button.

3	In 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.
The selected Wave file will play continuously until you click the Stop button.

5	If you are auditioning the master settings, on the Master tabbed page, click the audio effect to audition, and then click the effect to change. Move the Master Amount slider to get the amount you want.
The amount is reflected in the Amount column of the Effects list.
The amount set applies even when the effect type is changed.

Repeat this step for every master effect you want to configure.

6	If you are auditioning the source settings, in the Select Source box on the Source tabbed page, click the source whose effect amount you want to change. Click the effect to change and move the Amount slider to get the amount you want.
The amount is reflected in the Amount column of the Effects list.

Repeat this step for every audio source you want to configure.

7	When you are satisfied with the effects amount change, click the Stop button.

To audition an effect as you are creating or editing it

See Editing an Effect's Parameters.


Exporting an Audio Effect to a File

To export the last-saved audio effect into a file

Click the Export button. You can save using the recommended name or rename as you like. The audio effect name remains unchanged.

Note

If you modify the audio effect but do not save it, what you export will be its last-saved settings. You can use this file to share with your friends the audio effect you have created.


Importing an Audio Effect

To import an audio effect into the Audio Effect box

1	Click the Import button.

2	In the Import dialog box, select the .AUP file that has the audio effect you want to import.

Note

If you want to rename the audio effect, rename the file before importing it or save the imported audio effect using another name.


Selecting Audio Device and Setting Preferences

To select the audio device

1	In the EAX Control dialog box, click the Options tab.

2	In the Audio Device box, click the device you want to use.
The device is immediately selected.

To open a Wave file for auditioning

1	In the EAX Control dialog box, click the Options tab.

2	Click the Select File button.

3	In 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.
The selected Wave file is played continuously until you click the Stop button. For details on auditioning, see Auditioning Effects and Editing an Effect's Parameters.

To set preferences

If you want a confirmation from the system whenever you delete, make sure the Always Confirm On Delete check box is selected.
If you do not want a confirmation, clear the check box.

If you want your settings automatically saved when you close the dialog box, make sure the Always Save Settings Automatically check box is selected.
If you do not want an automatic save on closing, clear the check box.

Note

If the Always Save Settings Automatically option is on, you may accidentally save settings that you do not want. There is no way for you to revert your audio effect to the last-saved setting.


Audio Effect box

Lists the audio effect currently in use. To choose a different audio effect, click the down arrow.

You can use a factory audio effect to modify but the revised configuration must be saved as a user-defined audio effect by typing another name in the Audio Effect box.

When you modify a user-defined audio effect, you can save it over itself or as another audio effect.


Audio Effect Category box

Lists the current audio effect category. To choose a different audio effect category, click the down arrow.


Save button

Click this button to save the current configuration for the selected audio effect.

If this button is unavailable, then the audio effect is a factory one. The button will be available only if the audio effect is saved using another (non-factory) name in the Audio Effect box.


Delete button

Click this button to delete the selected audio effect.

If this button is unavailable, then the audio effect is a factory one. You can delete only predefined and user-defined audio effects.


Export button

Click this button to export the last-saved settings of the current audio effect to a file, which can be used to share the audio effect with other people.


Import button

Click this button to import a .AUP file into the Audio Effect box.


Close button

Click this button to close this dialog box.


Test/Stop button

When the button displays as Test, you can click it to start the playback of the Wave file you have selected to audition.

When the button displays as Stop, you can click it to stop the playback.


Help button

Click this button to open the Help file for this program.


Effects list

Effect	The basic or generic effect.

Type	The particular effect, also known as "preset".
To change the active effect type, click the type entry and select from the drop-down list displayed.
To create a new type, click the Parameters button at the bottom of the dialog box, and then modify an existing type by starting with a type that is closest to what you want.

Play Into	Determines the flow of the audio signal. For example, if you want a pitch-shifted reverb effect, click the Play Into entry of the Pitch Shift effect, and select Reverb.
A pitch-shifted reverb effect sounds the same as a pitch shift and a reverb added separately. It sounds different from a reverbed pitch-shift (that is, a reverb effect played into a pitch-shift).

Amount	In percentage terms, the amount or degree of the effect.
To change the amount, move the slider below.


Effect amount slider

Adjust the slider to get the level you want for the selected effect.


Add button

Click this button to add an effect. The Add Effects dialog box will appear.


Remove button

Click this button to remove the selected effect from the Effects list.

Note

You cannot remove Original Sound, Reverb and Chorus.


Parameters button

Click this button to edit the parameters of the selected effect from the Effects list.


All Effects Off button

Click this button to turn off all effects except Original Sound.


Select Source box

Click a source to modify its level of its effects.


Solo check box

If you want to concentrate on tuning the selected effect, you can temporarily turn off the rest of the effects (excluding Original Sound) on the Master tabbed page. To do so, make sure this check box is selected.


Wet Only check box

If you are tuning an effect such as Pitch Shifter where you do not want to hear the original sound, only the shifted pitch, make sure this check box is selected.
Original Sound will then be set to 0% on the Master tabbed page.


Test/Stop button

When the button displays as Test, you can click it to start the playback of the Wave file you have selected to audition.

When the button displays as Stop, you can click it to stop the playback.


Effects list

Effect	The basic or generic effect.

Amount	In percentage terms, the amount or degree of the effect.
To change the amount, move the slider below.


Effect amount slider

Adjust the slider to get the level you want for the selected effect.


Available Effects box

Displays all the rest of the available effects supported on the selected audio device which are not already in the Effects list of the Master tabbed page.


Effect box

Displays the generic effect to be edited.


Type box

Select the effect type to view or modify.

You can use a factory type to modify but must save the parameter configuration as a custom type by typing another name in the Type box.

When you modify a custom type, you can save it over itself or as another type.


Save button

Click this button to save the current configuration into the selected type.

If this button is unavailable, then the type is a factory one. The button will be available only if the type is saved using another (non-factory) name in the Type box.


Delete button

Click this button to delete the selected type.

If this button is unavailable, then the type is a factory one. You can delete only custom types.


Parameters box

This box displays the parameters and their values for the selected type. For a description of the effect parameters, see the glossary topic "Parameters - a description".


Effect amount slider

Drag the slider to the right to obtain a higher effect, or to the left for a lower effect.

Note

A stronger effect may result in a richer sound up to a point; after which the sound may be distorted.

A side-effect of a stronger effect is a louder sound.


On option button

Click this button to switch on the parameter.


Off option button

Click this button to switch off the parameter.


Default button

Click this button to reset the selected parameter to its default value.


Effects list

This box lists the effects of the selected audio effect and their MIDI controller assignments.

You can change the MIDI controller associated with an effect by clicking the controller entry and selecting from the drop-down list displayed.


Audio Device box

Lists the Creative audio devices on your computer. If you have more than one audio device, select the audio device whose effects you want to set.

The selection is effective immediately.


Always Confirm On Delete check box

To always display a confirmation dialog box whenever you delete, make sure this check box is selected.

If you do not require any confirmation prompt, clear the check box.


Always Save Settings Automatically check box

If you want the program to automatically save your settings whenever you close the program, make sure this check box is selected.

However, you may find that an automatic save of your settings may be undesirable [image] you may be experimenting with the effect parameters and find the sound is dreadful, but then if you accidentally click the Close button in the dialog box, your initial preset will be "ruined".

To be on the safe side, it is recommended that you clear this check box.


Select File button

Click this button to select the Wave file to use for audition.
The Select Wave File For Audition dialog box will appear.


Glossary

"dry"

factory audio effect

predefined audio effect

user-defined audio effect

"wet"

Parameters - a description


"dry"

Without effects.


factory audio effect

It is an audio effect provided with the package. It cannot be changed for saving over itself, and it cannot be deleted; therefore, when a factory audio effect is selected, the Save and Delete buttons are unavailable. However, you can use a factory audio effect as the basis for your own changes [image] just save as another audio effect.


predefined audio effect

Like a factory audio effect, a predefined audio effect is provided with the package. It, however, can be changed and saved over itself, and can be deleted.


user-defined audio effect

An audio effect you create for yourself. A user-defined audio effect can be created from existing audio effects. A user-defined audio effect can be saved over itself or be deleted.


"wet"

With effects.


Parameters - a description

Decay time
The time it takes for a sound and its reverb "tail" to drop 60 dB below its initial level, or the rate of decay of sound. In physical terms, this refers to the amount of time it takes for sound energy to bounce around a room before it is absorbed by the materials and air. For example, imagine the sound made by clapping your hands in a large empty room as compared with making the same sound in a small storage closet. The first environment, the large empty room, would have a long decay time. The smaller room filled with sound-absorbing material would have a short decay time.

Long reverb times
Enclosed space with hard walls that do not have materials that absorb sound (such as concrete arenas, big water tanks) will have long reverb times. Longer reverberation time adds to the tone and loudness of music, giving you [image] the listener [image] a sense of being enveloped by the music. You can hear an example in the Concert Hall audio effect.

Short Reverb Times
An example is the Living Room audio effect. Short reverb times of less than 1/2 second are ideal for speech, giving full sound to the voice without reducing its intelligibility. The following table shows the typical decay time for several types of music:

Music type	Time (in seconds)

Baroque	1.6 (or even shorter)

Classical	1.8

Romantic	2 (or longer)

Since most halls must host all types of music, a value of 1.8 seconds when fully occupied is an acceptable compromise.

Early Reflections
Early reflections are the sound that the listener hears immediately after the direct sound. Imagine the sound is being reflected off walls or objects close to the sound source.

Early reflections are needed to give the feeling that there are nearby walls. The more walls or objects (closer to the listener) present, the greater the percentage of early reflections. Among the audio effects, a Hallway has 50% early reflection. In contrast, a Forest has 10% early reflection.

Late Reflections/Reverberations
After the early reflections of the direct sound, other reflections occur as a result of the sound reflecting again and again off the walls.

The extent of reflections depends on whether the walls or objects absorb or reflect the sounds, its thickness, the shape of the room, and so on.

High Frequency Decay
Refers to how long high frequency sounds take to fade-out relative to low frequencies.

Its decay time depends on material of the room or environment and its reflectivity. For example, if a room is hard and reflective, the high frequency decay will be longer. Materials like concrete, tiled floor and brick walls have relatively longer high-frequency decay .On the other hand, if a room uses absorbent materials such as curtains or carpets, the high frequencies decay much faster than the lower ones do.

Size
Adjusting the size controls the length of the reflections, simulating the effect of being in either a larger or smaller room.

High Frequency Cutoff
This sets the frequency above which walls fail to reflect energy. The Audio Effects Processor also allows high frequency cut-off, enabling the simulation of environments with materials of varying reflectivity. For example, a high frequency cutoff of 16000 Hz simulates the reflectivity of a bathroom, which usually has a marbled wall.

Diffusion
Diffusion refers to the extent sound waves are scattered and decorrelated. The more diffused the sound, the smoother the feel and the less likely the sound will be hard or glary. The diffusion effect is determined by the shape and material of the environment. A good example of diffused sound effects is one achieved by introducing irregularities into a hall. A hall greatly admired for this effect is the Grosser Musikvereinssaal, in Vienna, which has irregularities everywhere in the form of statutes, coffered ceilings and irregular balcony fronts. Walls with rough textures also have high diffusion.

Density
Density refers to how "crowded" the environment is. The greater the density, the more quickly the reflections will bloom into a reverberation. In simple visual terms, a value of "0" approximates an environment with 2 walls. A value of "1" behaves like an environment with 4 walls. A value of 2 sounds like a room with 4 walls, a floor and a ceiling.

Detuning Rate/Depth
Detuning refers to the detuning of the sound. In environments such as underwater or places with strong winds, setting the detuning level adds realism by simulating the effect of sound reflections off moving surfaces. Detuning rate describes the motion of the surface. Detuning depth refers to the amount of the detuning applied to the sound.

Reverb
Reverb is used to model the acoustics of different environments. When a sound is generated inside a room, you first hear the original sound, followed by a quick succession of echoes. These echoes are the early reflections. Then, as the echoes accumulate, you hear of thousands of echoes combined into a smoothly decaying reverberation.

Chorus
Chorusing is an effect created by combining a signal with a modulating delayed copy of itself. This effect creates the illusion of multiple sources creating the same sound.

Auto Wah
The Auto Wah effect is a special version of the popular "Wah-wah" effect used by many electric guitarists. It is used to make the input sound like a baby crying "waaaah, waaaah". With a regular "Wah-wah" pedal, the user pushes a foot pedal up and down to change the center frequency of a sharp bandpass filter. With the Auto Wah effect, the center frequency is changed automatically according to the amplitude of the input signal.

Distortion
Distortion uses a technique called "soft clipping" to add additional harmonics to the signal .As the level increases, the top of a smoothly changing waveform becomes somewhat squared off or clipped. As the distortion level increases further, the smoothly changing wave transforms into a true square wave.

Flanger
A flanger consists of a short audio delay  line whose output is mixed together with the original signal. Mixing the delayed and original signals results in multiple frequency cancellations called a comb filter. Since the flanger is a type of filter, it works best with harmonically rich sounds.

Pitch Shifter
Changes the pitch of the original signal to a key higher or lower than the original. Useful for applications like harmonizing with yourself or changing music to a key you prefer.

Frequency Shifter
When the Frequency Shifter parameter for Shift Frequency is set to a small frequency, say between 1 to 10 Hz, and the mix amount is set to about 50%, then the processed sound takes on a wonderful swirling phasing sound. The sound is similar to that of hearing music from the outside of a distant marching band that is being shifted around by the wind, or the sound of a pan of water swirling around and being bumped while swirled.

When the shift frequency is increased to 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the sound is transformed into an inharmonic clangorous sound like a bell sound or a metallic sound. Voices turn into quacking sounds like ducks or movie robots.

Our Frequency Shifter is very different from our Pitch Shifter. In Pitch-shifting, harmonic relationships in the signal are maintained. Applications of Pitch Shifter include self-accompaniment in harmonizing with yourself when singing, and karaoke. The Frequency Shifter, on the other hand, translates all the component frequencies of the input signal by an equal amount, disrupting the harmonic relationships and radically altering the sonic qualities of the signal. Applications of the Frequency Shifter include the creation of bizarre distortions, phaser, and rotating speaker effects.

Ring Modulator
The ring modulator is a good example of using electronics to alter audio in ways that sound almost mathematical. That is because the sound is literally multiplied by another sound or signal, producing a wide range of changes from clangorous metallic rapping sounds to strangely altered vocal sounds.

Echo (2 tap)
Echo provides a few short repetitions or copies of the original sound. In physical terms, imagine a sound in a steep canyon or between two buildings standing opposite one another. Any sound will be followed by the same sound bouncing back at you after a short period of time from the nearest wall. Then another echo would follow from the next nearest wall and so on.