Copyright: Copyright © 1999-2002 Creative Technology, Ltd.   Creative Surround Mixer Help - Version 1.1
Citation: Copyright © 1999-2002 Creative Technology, Ltd.


What is Creative Surround Mixer?

Creative Surround Mixer is the nerve center for these tasks, after you have specified the speaker output:

Testing your speakers;

Applying an EAX-enabled audio effect;

Combining and manipulating sound from various audio input sources: mixing them;

Setting audio effects;

Surround Mixer has two modes, click the Basic Mode or Advanced Mode button to switch between the basic and advanced mode:

In basic mode, the Mixer panel is displayed. You can

mix sounds from various audio input sources when playing or recording

control volume, bass, treble, balance and fade

In advanced mode, the Surround Mixer and Mixer panels are displayed. In Surround Mixer, you can

select your audio effects

specify the speaker output

perform a speaker test

For details on what you can do in Surround Mixer, explore the rest of this Help file.

Tip

Click the Surround Mixer icon in the upper left corner to display the system menu.


Selecting basic or advanced mode

Surround Mixer has two modes:

Basic mode

Advanced mode

You can select basic or advanced mode.

To select advanced mode when the basic mode is displayed

Click the Advanced Mode button in the lower-left corner of Surround Mixer. The Surround Mixer panel appears.

To select basic mode when advanced mode is displayed

Click the Basic Mode button in the lower-left corner of Surround Mixer to hide the Surround Mixer panel.


Testing speakers

To test that you have connected your speakers correctly

1	In the Surround Mixer panel, click the SPEAKERS tab to view your speaker setup.

2	In the Speaker view, click the Speakers button to select the speaker mode you want, and then click the Test button.

For "5.1 Speakers", there will be a voice coming distinctly from the front-left, center, front-right, rear-left, rear-right in turn.

For "4 Speakers", there will be a voice coming distinctly from the front-left, front-right, rear-left and rear-right speakers in turn.

For the other speaker outputs, there will be a voice coming distinctly from the left and the right sides of your headphones and speakers, respectively.

Tip

In 5.1 speaker mode, you can click the Settings button to adjust the center speaker volume and subwoofer volume. You can also enable/disable the Bass Redirection feature and Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decode feature.

Note

The 5.1 speaker mode is only available for audio cards that support 5.1 speakers.


Using the Bass Redirection feature

(Applicable only for some audio cards.)

This feature lets you redirect the low frequencies, which make up the bass, of an audio signal from your smaller satellite speakers to the subwoofer. The result is an enhanced bass level.

This is useful if:

your speaker system does not have its own bass management system which results in poor or no bass level.

you want to enhance the existing bass level.

your existing games only provide discrete sound for the satellite speakers.

you have a discrete six-channel input amplifier without a built-in crossover.

you have an additional independent subwoofer.

To enable the Bass Redirection feature

1	In the Surround Mixer panel, click the SPEAKERS tab to view your speaker setup.

2	In the Speaker view, click the Speakers button to select the speaker mode you want.

3	Click the Settings button.

4	In the Settings dialog box, click the Bass Redirection check box to put a check mark in it.
To disable the Bass Redirection feature, clear the Bass Redirection check box.

To adjust the crossover frequency

Move the Crossover Frequency slider upwards or downwards to the required crossover frequency point. Frequencies below that point will be directed to the subwoofer.


Using the Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decode feature

(Applicable only for some audio cards.)

If you use a software DVD decoder that is able to output a compressed AC-3 SPDIF signal, then you can use your audio card to decode the signal to your speakers.

To use your audio card for Dolby Digital (AC-3) decoding

1	In your software DVD decoder's audio settings, enable SPDIF Output or a similar function.

2	In the Surround Mixer panel, click the SPEAKERS tab to view your speaker setup.

3	In the Speaker view, click the Speakers button to select the speaker mode you want.

4	Click the Settings button.

5	In the Settings dialog box, click the AC-3 decode check box to put a check mark in it.
To disable the AC-3 decode feature, clear the AC-3 decode check box.

6	In the Speaker view, click the Digital Output Only check box to put a check mark in it if you are using digital speakers (via the digital connectors). Clear the check box if you are using analog speakers.

Note

To use an external decoder for Dolby Digital (AC-3) decoding, disable the Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decode feature (as in Step 5) and select the Digital Output Only check box (as in Step 6). The compressed AC-3 SPDIF signal will be passed through the Analog/Digital Out jack of your audio card to the external decoder.

Select the 5.1 Speakers mode in the Speakers box if you are using a 5.1 speaker system like the DTT3500. If you are using a 2 or 4 speaker system, please select the corresponding speaker mode. The Dolby Digital (AC-3) output will be downmixed accordingly.


Audio input sources

The following is a description of the audio input sources that can be connected to your audio card:

Audio input source	Description

 Auxiliary*	Analog devices such as, TV tuner, MPEG or similar cards. Internal connection

 CD Audio*	CD or DVD drive audio output in analog format

 Microphone*	Microphone

 Line-In*	Analog devices such as, cassette player and portable CD player

 TAD-In*	Telephone Answering Device. That is, standard voice modem. Internal connection

 PC Speaker*	Computer motherboard speaker connector. Internal connection

 CD Digital	Also known as CD SPDIF. CD or DVD drive audio output in digital format

 Line-In 2*	A second Line-In connection

 Line-In 2/Mic 2*	A shared connection for a second Line-In or a second Microphone

 Auxiliary 2*	A second Auxiliary input. External connection

 MIDI	MIDI keyboard, effects processor, sound module, and so on

 SPDIF-In	Digital devices such as MiniDisc or Digital Audio Tape (DAT) machines

 Wave/MP3	Wave/MP3 files played on Windows Media Player or Active Movie

Note

Audio input sources marked with an asterisk (*) are analog audio input sources.

Not all audio inputs may be available for certain models.

  Related Topic


Other advanced controls

In the Mixer panel, if the icon of audio input sources or Volume control has a red plus sign [image] above it, then that particular control has one or more Other Advanced Controls. When you click this red plus sign, an Other Advanced Controls dialog box appears.

An advanced control will appear only when that feature is supported in the hardware.

The following links describe some of the advanced controls. When its check box is selected, you are enabling the feature:

Digital Output Only

Record Without Playback

Mic Boost (20dB)

Transmit Microphone Sound Only


Digital Output Only

Digital Output Only is an advanced control of the Volume control in the Mixer panel. Enable this feature when you connect digital speakers to your audio card.

Notes

When Digital Output Only is active, it is recommended that you do not connect analog speakers as your output. You will not get any sound from analog speakers.

Make sure that the devices to which you want to record are connected via their digital inputs.


Record Without Playback

(Applicable only for some audio cards.)

Record Without Playback is an advanced control of analog audio input sources. Enable this feature when you want to do an analog recording without any output from the speakers.

Notes

Make sure that the analog input source you are recording from is unmuted by clicking its Mute check box to clear it in the Mixer panel.

Playback will not be muted until you start recording.


Specifying volume controls

The panel of volume controls for audio input sources displays only six volume controls at a time for easy reference. However, you can specify the volume control for columns with a down arrow next to the input icon.

To specify a particular volume control for the current column

1	Click the icon in the current column.
A list of all the supported volume controls appears.

2	Click the command for the volume control of the audio input source you want.
This volume control will occupy the current column.

Notes

You may want to make sure that only the controls for the audio input sources that you want are unmuted. To do so, go through all the volume controls.

  Related Topic


Adjusting the volume of an audio input source

To adjust the volume of an audio input source

Move its Volume slider up to raise the volume and down to lower the volume.

Notes

The most effective method of muting an audio input source is to click the Mute check box to put a check mark in it; setting its volume slider to zero may not achieve the result you want.

  Related Topics


Muting/unmuting a device

To mute audio input sources and the Volume output

Click the Mute check box to put a check mark in it.
To unmute, clear the Mute check box.

Notes

You may want to make sure that only the controls for the audio input sources that you want are unmuted. To do so, go through all the volume controls.

  Related Topics


Adjusting the sound output

The output control panel in the Mixer panel has controls for the sound output: its volume, treble, bass, left-right balance and front-rear fade.

To adjust the output volume level

Move the Volume slider up to raise the output volume, and down to lower it.
To mute or switch off all output sound, click the Mute check box to put a check mark in it.

To adjust the output treble and bass

Move the Treble and Bass sliders respectively to boost or attenuate the levels until you get just the right sound.

To adjust the left/right balance of the output

Click the Bal/Fade button.
In the Balance/Fade dialog box, drag the yellow dot to a position between the Left and Right ends.
To center the left/right balance, click the Default button.

To adjust the front/rear fade of the output (available only when your Speakers mode is set to 4 or 5.1 Speakers)

Click the Bal/Fade button.
In the Balance/Fade dialog box, drag the yellow dot to a position between the Front and Rear ends.
To center the front/rear fade, click the Default button.

Tip

To centralize the Treble and Bass sliders, click the right arrow button beside the middle of each vertical slider.

If the 5.1 speaker mode is selected in the Speaker view of the Surround Mixer panel, you can click the Settings button to adjust the center speaker volume and subwoofer volume. If the Bass Redirection feature is enabled in the Settings dialog box, you can adjust the crossover frequency.

Notes

The 5.1 speaker mode is only available for audio cards that support 5.1 speakers.

  Related Topics


Displaying a hidden record source

The record panel (slider with red dot at the bottom) in the Mixer panel can display only one record control at a time; the rest are hidden.

To display a hidden record control

Click the currently displayed icon, and then click the record control you want from the menu displayed.

The column switches to the icon and volume slider of the selected record source.

  Related Topic


Recording from a single source

* "What U Hear" is not a single source.

To record from a single source

1	If the one-column record panel (with a red dot at the bottom) is not displaying the record source you want, switch to the record source you want. For details, see "Displaying a hidden record source".

2	In your Wave recording program (for example, WaveStudio), set your record options, and then click the Record button to start recording.

To adjust the recording volume [image] which affects how loud the recorded sound is when you play it back [image] move the record source volume slider.

3	To stop recording, click the Stop button in the recording program.

Notes

When you do single-source recording, any effects setting will not be applied to the output, and so your recording will sound "dry". To obtain a "wet" recording (that is, one with effects), you must select the "What U Hear" record control and then unmute the audio input source you want. You may want to make sure that the audio input sources that you do not want are muted.

If you record in mono mode and the sound heard is that of the left channel component only, record in the "What U Hear" mode. See Recording from multiple sources for details.


Recording from multiple sources

To record from multiple sources using 'What U Hear'

1	If the one-column record panel (with a red dot at the bottom) is not displaying "What U Hear" [image], switch to the "What U Hear" control. For details, see "Displaying a hidden record source".

2	In the six-column panel of audio input sources, select the sources you want to mix. See "Adjusting the volume of an audio input source", "Muting/unmuting a device", and "Specifying volume controls" on what to do to select these audio input sources.

3	In your Wave recording program (for example, WaveStudio), set your record options, and then click the Record button to start recording.

To adjust the recording volume [image] which affects how loud the recorded sound is when you play it back [image] move the record source volume slider.

4	To stop recording, click the Stop button in the recording program.

* If you are recording from a single source and want effects to be applied in the recording, you have to use this procedure as well.

To record from multiple analog sources using Analog Mix

1	If the one-column record panel (with a red dot at the bottom) is not displaying Analog Mix [image] , switch to the Analog Mix control. For details, see "Displaying a hidden record source".

2	In the six-column panel of audio input sources, select the sources you want to mix. See "Adjusting the volume of an audio input source", "Muting/unmuting a device", and "Specifying volume controls" on what to do to select these audio input sources.

3	In your Wave recording program (for example, WaveStudio), set your record options, and then click the Record button to start recording.

To adjust the recording volume [image] which affects how loud the recorded sound is when you play it back [image] move the record source volume slider.

4	To stop recording, click the Stop button in the recording program.

Notes

To obtain a "wet" recording (that is, one with effects) when you want to record from one or more sources, you must select the "What U Hear" record control and then unmute the audio input sources you want. You may want to make sure that the audio input sources that you do not want are muted.


Applying an EAX-enabled audio effect

To apply EAX-enabled audio effects

1	In the Surround Mixer panel, click the EAX tab to see the audio effects list box.

2	In the EAX view, click one of the following options:

Environments

Advanced EQ

Special Effects

Custom

3	Click the audio effect you want from the box on the right.
If you want to create or import audio effects, click the Settings button to start EAX Control. Refer to its Help file for details.


No sound heard

Questions

I do not get any sound from my speakers.

I do not get any sound from my rear speakers.

Answer
First, check that you have connected your speakers to your card's output. Second, check that you have unmuted the correct source in Mixer panel. If both these conditions have been met and you still do not get any sound, click the red plus sign [image] above the Volume icon and check whether the Digital Output Only check box is selected. If it is, you are in the Digital Output Only mode and so must connect to digital speakers to hear the sound from your audio card. See the section on Digital Output Only for more information.


Glossary

2 Speakers

4 Speakers

5.1 Speakers

Analog Mix

Crossover frequency

EAX-enabled audio effects

EAX view

"dry"

Headphones

Mic Boost (20dB)

Mixer panel

Speakers list

Surround Mixer panel

TAD-Out

Transmit Microphone Sound Only

"wet"

"What U Hear"


"dry"

Without effects.


Mic Boost (20dB)

If you find your microphone is too soft, make sure this check box is selected.


EAX view

Use this box to apply EAX-enabled audio effects in the following categories:

Environments

Advanced EQ

Special Effects

Custom


Speakers list

Here is the list of supported speaker output configurations. Select the speaker output configuration you want.

Headphones	If you connect to a pair of headphones.

2 Speakers	If you connect to a pair of powered speakers.

4 Speakers	If you connect to a four-channel speaker system such as the FourPointSurround(TM) series or to two pairs of powered speakers: one at your card's (Front) Line-Out jack and the other at the Rear Out jack.

5.1 Speakers	If you connect to a 5.1 speaker system (that has 4 speakers, a center speaker and a subwoofer).


EAX-enabled audio effects

EAX-enabled audio effects are presets designed to enhance and optimize your audio experience. They are available in the following categories:

Environments

Advanced EQ

Special Effects

Custom

Use an EAX-enabled audio effect to play a particular game or listen to music in a particular style. For example, you can enhance the audio playback of an MP3 file with the Cathedral effect in the Environments category.


TAD-Out

Appears in the Mixer panel only if your hardware supports this feature. Stands for Telephone Answering Device Out. If you unmute this device, you are routing the sound from the unmuted audio input sources to a standard internal modem.


Transmit Microphone Sound Only

If this check box is selected, the party at the other end of the telephone line can hear only what is transmitted over the microphone in use. This is despite other audio sources playing concurrently on your computer [image] Digital In, MIDI, Wave, Line-In, among others. For example, you may be singing to the tune of a song on your computer's CD but with the Transmit Microphone Sound Only switch on, only your voice is heard by the other party.


"wet"

With effects.


"What U Hear"

An option in the record panel that allows multiple audio input sources to be recorded. Only one record control can be active at a time: it is the one displayed in the one-column record panel. When the active record control is something other than "What U Hear", the recording will only be of that one source. When the active record control is "What U Hear", the recording will be of all the unmuted sources in the six-column audio input source panel, even when they are hidden.


Surround Mixer panel


Mixer panel


Crossover frequency

A frequency divide that is used to route a determined frequency range to the appropriate drivers. In the case of Bass Redirection, frequencies below a chosen point are filtered and directed to the subwoofers.


Advanced Mode button

	The Advanced Mode button appears when the Surround Mixer panel is hidden.  Click this button to show the Surround Mixer panel.


Basic Mode button

	The Basic Mode button appears when the Surround Mixer panel is displayed.  Click this button to hide the Surround Mixer panel.


Settings dialog box


Balance/Fade dialog box


Analog Mix

An option in the record panel that allows multiple analog input sources to be recorded. Analog Mix consists of the following analog input sources:

Line-In

Auxiliary

CD Audio

TAD-In

PC Speaker

Choose the analog recording sources from the six-column audio input source panel.