MONSTER SOUND MX300 USER’S GUIDE Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
Copyright Notices Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential Unpublished Works. Copyright © 19921998 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. This manual is copyrighted. All rights reserved. This document may not, in whole or part, be copied, reproduced, reduced, or translated by any means, either mechanical or electronic, without prior consent in writing from Diamond Multimedia Systems, Incorporated.
Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................1 About Monster Sound MX300 ..........................................1 MX300 Features...................................................................2 About Aureal Vortex II.......................................................2 2 INSTALLING MX300..............................................................5 General System Requirements...........................................
1 INTRODUCTION Welcome to the world of Monster Sound MX300! The Monster Sound MX300 enhances your audio listening experience, taking you to a whole new level of aural realism. Play the hottest new 3D games, or view the latest DVD titles to hit the market with sense-shattering sound! This chapter introduces you to Monster Sound MX300 and its features.
MX300 FEATURES Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., has partnered with Aureal Semiconductor, Inc., to bring the A3D 2.0 positional audio standard exclusively to your desktop and home entertainment system. Powerful features include the following: ♦ A3D 1.0 and 2.
Vortex II also furnishes complete hardware emulation of legacy audio in Windows and DOS—so you can run your favorite, classic video games. For more information on A3D, see Chapter 3.
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INSTALLING MX300 2 This chapter provides an overview of the MX300 hardware and instructions on the MX300 hardware and software installation. ♦ GENERAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ♦ HARDWARE INSTALLATION ♦ SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ♦ INSTALLING SOFTWARE EXTRAS A B C A – Bundled software C – Installation CD B –MX300 PCI board GENERAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The following minimum system is recommended: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Pentium 90MHz or faster (266MHz PII for SoftDVD support) 16 MB of RAM Windows 98/95 or NT 4.
Your Monster Sound MX300 kit includes the MX300 card, installation CD, and additional bundled applications (see kit photograph). To make the MX300 installation proceed smoothly, first install the Monster Sound MX300 hardware, then install the software drivers from the installation CD disk, and then install the optional bundled software. HARDWARE INSTALLATION To install the MX300 card, shut your computer down, and complete the following steps.
handling any card. Remove your card from its protective bag. Handle it by the edges and do not directly touch internal components or connector contacts. To install your peripheral card: 1. With the power off, remove your computer cover and locate an available PCI slot. 2. Remove the screw attached to the bracket cover and remove the bracket plate. 3. Position the card directly above the slot. Note—Cards are designed to fit one way only. Be sure your card is properly aligned.
4. 5. 6. Insert the card firmly into the PCI slot. Take care to press it evenly and snugly into its slot. Do not force. Once you are certain your card is installed properly in its slot, secure it to the computer frame with the bracket screw you removed in step 2. If your computer has a CDROM or DVD-ROM drive, connect the CD-ROM audio cable to the internal connector labeled CD on your MX300 card. Figure – MX300 card with internal CD, Aux, and Modem connectors 7. 8.
1. 2. Click Next. You are prompted with two options for finding the drivers. Select Search for the best driver for your device. Click Next. 3. You are offered several search options. Select the Specify a location check box. Insert the Monster Sound MX300 Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive and set the path in the install window to D:\WIN9X (or replace D with the letter that corresponds to your CD-ROM drive). You can also click Browse and navigate to your CD-ROM drive.
Windows 95 There are several versions of the Windows 95 operating system. Verify your version of Windows 95 by clicking Start > Settings > Control Panel. After the Control Panel directory opens, doubleclick System. The designations 4.00.950 B or 4.00.950 C indicate you are using one of the OEM Service Releases of Windows 95. Be sure to follow the instructions below for the appropriate operating system you are using. Notes—(1) You may need your original Windows 95 CD to complete this installation.
4. You may be requested to reboot your computer. If so, please restart your computer now—leaving the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive. 5. Once Windows boots, the Monster Sound II Setup installation program should automatically start. If not, then double-click on My Computer and double-click on the installation CD icon. Select Installation from the available options. To complete the Monster Sound II MX300 installation: 1. Wait until the Welcome screen appears and click Next. 2.
your CD-ROM drive). You can also click Browse and navigate to your CD-ROM drive. 3. Click OK, then click Finish. The driver files will be copied to their destination directories. If you are prompted for the Monster Sound MX300 Installation Disk, Click OK. The Copying Files… dialog appears. 4. Enter D:\WIN9X (or replace D with the letter that corresponds to your CD-ROM drive) in the Copy files from box. You can also click Browse and navigate to your CDROM drive.
Windows NT 4.0 Software and driver installation for Monster Sound MX300 is a two-step process under Windows NT 4.0. The following sections instruct you how to install the MX300 drivers and software. Notes—(1) Be sure you have already installed the Monster Sound MX300 hardware. If you have not, complete the hardware installation instructions that begin on page 6. (2) Because Windows NT 4.0 does not support Plug-n-Play, the hardware drivers must be installed manually.
MX300 Driver Installation To install the Monster Sound MX300 Drivers under Windows NT 4.0: 1. From the Windows Taskbar, click Start > Settings > Control Panel. The Control Panel directory opens. 2. Double-click Multimedia and select the Devices tab. 3. Click Add and select Unlisted or Updated Driver from the list box. Click OK. The Install Driver dialog appears. 4. Set the path in the Install Driver dialog to D:\WinNT (or replace D with the letter that corresponds to your CD-ROM drive). Click OK.
Additional Software Bundles Your MX300 kit may contain additional software bundles on individual CD disks. Choose a CD of interest and install the game or application.
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3 A3D OVERVIEW AND MX300 SETUP Diamond Multimedia Systems has partnered with Aureal Semiconductor to deliver the latest and most realistic audio system possible for your PC. This chapter describes the A3D positional audio technology that is at the heart of your Monster Sound MX300 card, and includes some useful audio configurations you can set up with the MX300 card. ♦ ABOUT A3D TECHNOLOGY ♦ MX300 CONFIGURATIONS ABOUT A3D TECHNOLOGY Aureal’s A3D Interactive is a positional 3D audio technology.
Reflection Sound source Once captured, the audio cues are synthesized in a computer simulation for verification. Aureal Wavetracing (A3D 2.0) Developed over many years in conjunction with clients such as NASA, Matsushita, and Disney, Aureal’s Wavetracing technology parses the geometry description of a 3D space to trace sound waves in real-time as they are reflected and occluded by passive acoustic objects in the 3D environment.
Audio Output: 2 or 4 Speakers The MX300 card has two separate audio output jacks labeled Out1 and Out2 respectively on the mounting bracket. (see following figure) MPU401 MIDI/game port connector Figure – Side view of external MX300 I/O connectors Note—Powered speakers are required to connect with the audio outputs. The MX300 processes A3D and SoftDVD multi-channel sources and automatically downmixes the signal for 2, or 4-speaker configurations.
produce concert-quality instrumental music directly from music software. MIDI cables must be purchased separately. To connect an external MIDI device to MX300: 1. 2. 3. With the computer off, insert a MIDI connector into the MPU401 MIDI port on the MX300 card. See figure, page 19. Attach the opposite end of the MIDI connector to your MIDIcompatible device or MIDI patch bay. Restart your computer. MX300 Control Panel The MX300 control panel is installed when you run the MX300 installation program.
Set your MX300 configurations using the control panel. You may then select a desired tab to make custom settings, or demo certain A3D applications. Click the Help button when inside the MX300 control panel for more complete MX300 configuration instructions and control panel information. Note—Under Windows NT 4.0, the MX300 control panel only displays the MIDI and Preferences tabs.
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4 ABOUT SOFTDVD™ ® AND DOLBY DIGITAL Your Monster Sound MX300 board supports Zoran SoftDVD and Dolby Digital audio output. This chapter describes software DVD, the requirements necessary to run Zoran SoftDVD, and an overview of Dolby® Digital. ♦ WHAT IS SOFTDVD? ♦ WHAT IS DOLBY DIGITAL? WHAT IS SOFTDVD™? Software DVD is a software method for decoding DVD signals on your system.
Refer to page 36 for SoftDVD technical specifications, minimum system requirements for installation, and the location of the SoftDVD user’s guide. Audio Capabilities ofSoftDVD MX300 can output multi-channel audio that is standard with most DVD movies and titles. There are three modes of audio operation with SoftDVD: 1. 2. 3. Stereo Surround 3D Sound Stereo mode is a two-speaker stereo downmix only. There is no added benefit in using this mode with MX300.
Use the Diamond Monster Sound utility to verify proper speaker configuration. To verify your speaker configuration, use the following procedure: 1. From the Windows Taskbar, double-click the Monster Sound Musical note icon. The Monster Sound properties page appears. 2. Click Config. On this page, you can verify the audio output capabilities. To change the audio mode of SoftDVD: 1. Open the SoftDVD application and click Configure within the SoftDVD Navigator. The SoftDVD Properties page appears.
2. Click Audio Settings. Under Audio mode, you can choose either Stereo, Surround or 3D Sound. WHAT IS DOLBY® DIGITAL? First introduced to moviegoers in 1992 with Batman Returns, and heard on over 1500 films around the world since then, Dolby Digital is the latest sound innovation from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Digital is commonly referred to as “5.1 surround” due to its unique configuration.
Unlike analog Dolby Surround with its single band-limited surround channel (usually played over two speakers), Dolby Digital 5.1 features two completely independent surround channels, each offering the same fullrange fidelity as the three front channels. As a result, true stereo surround effects can be achieved for an expanded sense of depth, localization, Figure – 5.1 speaker configuration and overall realism. This section was reprinted with permission of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
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5 TROUBLESHOOTING AND GENERAL Q & A Does the Monster Sound come with a controller for my CD-ROM? No. There is no CD-ROM ribbon-cable interface on the Monster Sound card. However, you may be able to use one of the following devices to control your CD-ROM drive, depending on the type of interface: ♦ ♦ The IDE or proprietary interface on your existing legacy sound card. The IDE interface built into your PC's motherboard. Are drivers for Windows 3.1 available? No.
Why am I prompted for the Windows 98/95 CD when installing Monster Sound? The reason Windows 98/95 prompts you for the CD is because it needs one or more of Windows system components that are not installed on your system. These are typically audio components that are required when using Monster Sound. These components include, but are not limited to: ♦ Joystick drivers ♦ Audio Compression modules ♦ Volume Control (Mixer) ♦ Sound Recorder If Windows prompts you for the Windows 98/95 Installation CD : 1. 2.
A CONTACTING DIAMOND CUSTOMER SERVICE For updates and news on Diamond Multimedia products, please fill out the product registration card and mail it in. For questions or information regarding Diamond Multimedia Systems products, please use any of the following: U.S. mail: Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. 7101 Supra Drive SW Albany OR 97321 Sales Info: 1-800-4-MULTIMEDIA sales4u@diamondmm.com Customer Service Phone: 800-468-5846 Customer Service FAX: 408-325-7408 Web Site: www.diamondmm.
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B TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Operating System Support ♦ Windows 98/95, NT 4.0 ♦ Real-mode MS-DOS API Compatibility ♦ DirectSound, DirectSound3D ♦ DirectMusic and DirectShow ♦ A3D, versions 1.0-2.0 Minimum System Requirements ♦ Pentium 90MHz* ♦ 16 MB RAM ♦ 50 MB free hard disk space ♦ one available PCI slot ♦ powered speakers or headphones *Note—SoftDVD and Dolby Digital support require Pentium II 266MHz or faster. See page 36, SoftDVD System Requirements for more information.
Hardware Specifications Audio Processing Chipset: Audio Codec: Wavetable: Bus Type: Signal-to-Noise-Ratio: Sample Rates: External Audio Output: External Audio Input: Internal Audio Input: External Connectors: Internal Connectors: PCI Controller: Aureal Vortex 2 AU8830 AC’97 Quad codec 320-voice DLS wavetable engine PCI ~96dB Up to 48kHz Primary [Out1] and Secondary [Out2] Buffered Stereo Line Level Output Mic Input, Stereo Line Input CD, Aux, Modem MPU401 MIDI/Joystick Game Port Wavetable header, MX-Link
Audio Precision THD+N vs FREQUENCY 10/24/98 16:39:29 0.1 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.06 % 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k Hz Color Line Style Thick Data Axis Cyan Cyan Solid Solid 1 1 Left Left Anlr.THD+N Ratio Anlr.THD+N Ratio board: Monster Sound MX300 (23010123-002) test loop: XOOOOOXXXX input level: 309.7 mVrms source: Line destination: Out 1 load: 100K thd+n vs frequency.
SoftDVD System Requirements To take full advantage of SoftDVD, the following minimum system configuration is recommended: ♦ Pentium II 266MHz or faster ♦ Monster Sound MX300 sound card ♦ Windows 98; Windows 95 OSR2 with USB supplement, or Windows 95 OSR2.
TRADEMARK, WARRANTY AND CERTIFICATION INFORMATION C Trademarks All trade names referenced in this manual are the service mark, trademark, or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Diamond reserves the right to change specifications without notice. Diamond Monster Sound MX300 Warranty Your Monster Sound MX300 kit comes with a three-year hardware warranty. Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
Certification Information This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and radiates radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
