Congratulations! Welcome to the audio revolution. At the heart of this breakthrough USB audio enhancer is the powerful Sound Core3D™ multi-core sound and voice processor, delivering amazing gaming audio to your console, PC or Mac. With hardware accelerated THX® TruStudio Pro™ and CrystalVoice™ enhancements, plus Dolby® Digital decoding it transforms basic stereo or a Dolby Digital stream into exhilarating 3D virtual surround sound on your headset or headphones.
About Your Audio Device Sound Blaster Recon3D M U TE Micro-USB port for power T OU DE SC MO C O N N E C T MIC LO W MID HIG H Status LED us b Volume Control buttons Connect LED button E NN CT d car ss ele wir Scout Mode button CO IN/ ICAL OPTAUX IN Microphone Gain switch T OU DE SC MO Proprietary slot for wireless card Analog/Digital input combo jack PS 3 XB OX PC MO DE PS3/XBOX/PC Mode switch Microphone jack THX TruStudio Pro button Audio output jack XBOX Installation CD 1.
Setting Up Your Audio Device For PC/Mac Your audio device can be used without installing any software. However to enjoy the full features of your audio device such as THX TruStudio Pro and CrystalVoice enhancements, we recommend you to install the drivers and applications for it by following the steps below.
Step 1: Install the software For all supported Windows OS 1 Insert the Installation CD into the CD or DVD drive. Your CD should start automatically. If it does not, follow the steps below: i. Click Start My Computer. ii. Right-click the CD or DVD drive icon, then click Open Autoplay or Autoplay. 2 To complete the installation, follow the instructions on the screen. 3 When prompted, restart your computer.
For Xbox 360 ps3 xbox pc M U TE T OU DE SC MO C O N N E C T MIC LO W MID HIGH usb ele d car ss wir / L IN TICA OPAU X IN XBOX ps3 NOTE • Slide the Mode switch on the audio device to Xbox. • Slide the Mode switch on the audio extension cable to Xbox. From the main menu, navigate to System Settings Console Settings Audio Digital Output, then select Dolby Digital 5.1. Press the Xbox Guide button on your controller.
For Playstation 3 ps3 xbox pc M U TE T OU DE SC MO C O N N E C T MIC LO W MID HIGH usb ele wir d car ss IN/ TICXALIN OPAU Optional XBOX ps3 NOTE • Slide the Mode switch on the audio device to PS3. • If you are using the audio extension cable, slide the Mode switch on it to PS3. From the main menu, navigate to Settings Output Settings, then select Optical. Sound Settings Audio From the main menu, navigate to Audio Multi-Output, then select On.
Your Audio Device Features Turn on/off THX TruStudio Pro Press to turn THX TruStudio Pro effects on or off. MUTE SCOUT MODE NOTE Scout Mode will be turned off while THX TruStudio Pro is on. Turn on/off Scout Mode Press to turn Scout Mode on or off. MUTE SCOUT MODE SCOUT MODE NOTE Scout Mode will be turned off while THX TruStudio Pro is on. Adjust Microphone Gain Slide the Microphone Gain switch to Mid or High if you find that your voice input is too soft.
Sound Blaster Recon3D Control Panel Managing your Profiles Click the button to display the Profiles pane. Activate a profile by clicking and selecting it from the list. Click to save all settings to the current profile or create a new profile. Click to delete the active profile. Sharing Profiles You can export your custom settings and share them with others, or import other gamers’ custom settings. NOTE • Sound Blaster Recon3D profiles and Sound Blaster Tactic3D profiles are not compatible with each other.
Adjusting your master volume settings Drag the master volume slider to adjust the volume level. You can mute/unmute the volume by clicking the speaker icon. Configuring your software settings Click each feature to access its settings page. More information on each feature can be found in their respective sections in this manual. Configuring your general settings You can change the language settings or restore settings to their default values. You can also check for software updates.
THX TruStudio Pro Settings 3 1 2 1 THX TruStudio Pro enhancements Select to enable or disable each enhancement. 2 Enhancement Level sliders Adjust the amount of enhancement to apply. 3 Audio Test controls Play/Pause or Stop the demo video. Enhancing your listening experience You can adjust the amount to apply for each enhancement by dragging its slider left to decrease or right to increase. To test the effects of the audio enhancements, click and listen to the demo video.
CrystalVoice Settings 1 1 CrystalVoice enhancements Select to enable or disable each enhancement. Having fun with CrystalVoice FX Select a voice preset to use, then click and speak into your microphone to hear how your voice sounds with the preset applied.
Speakers/Headphones Settings 1 1 Device selection Select the number of speakers or headphones that you are using. Testing your audio playback Select the appropriate configuration based on your setup, then click to hear a sample audio clip being played back through your setup.
Cinematic Settings 1 Decoder controls Set the options for the Dolby Digital decoder. Configuring your digital audio connection Dynamic Range Control adjusts the volume level of the soundtrack automatically during soft or loud sections to enable you to hear all the sounds clearly.
Mixer Settings 1 1 Volume sliders Adjust the playback and recording volume for your various inputs and outputs. Adjusting your Mixer settings Slide the volume level sliders right to increase and left to decrease. Click the icon to mute/unmute the input/ouput. You can click the icon to adjust the settings for your input/output.
Equalizer Settings 1 2 1 EQ presets Select an equalizer preset to apply to your audio. 2 EQ sliders Adjust the equalizer settings. Customizing your EQ settings Select the EQ checkbox to enable this feature, then click the EQ dropdown arrow and select a preset from the list. Selecting a preset will move the EQ sliders to the appropriate values. You can adjust the equalizer setting by dragging the sliders up or down to the desired level.
Advanced Features Settings 1 1 Save/Load THX TruStudio Pro settings Save your current settings to your audio device or load your audio device’s current settings. Saving/Loading THX TruStudio Pro settings You can get the same audio enhancements used with your PC/Mac on your console or vice versa. Select either Import from Device or Export to Device from the drop-down box, then click . NOTE Only one setting can be saved onto Sound Blaster Recon3D.
Using Your Audio Device Playing Games Your audio device is equipped with cutting edge audio technologies and software to enhance the audio in your games. THX TruStudio Pro will elevate your gaming experience to the next level, allowing you to hear sound details in games you have never heard before! THX TruStudio Pro Surround provides immersion control of sounds not just around you, but also above and below for a full 3D audio experience.
CrystalVoice FX enables the speaker’s voice to be altered with a variety of effects, which can be used to enhance the tone of the speaker’s voice, create interesting accents or to sound like a completely different person. CrystalVoice Smart Volume automatically adjusts the loudness of the speaker’s voice to maintain a consistent volume level. This makes it convenient for the speaker to converse normally, regardless of whether the speaker is close to or far away from the microphone.
Configuring Creative ALchemy When playing DirectSound®3D games on Windows 7 and Windows Vista, the game loses its immersiveness and environmental effects due to changes in audio architecture. To restore these effects and experience the full audio immersion, follow the steps below: Enable Windows XP compatibility mode 1 2 3 4 Navigate to the folder where you have installed the game. Right-click on the game’s launcher and select Properties.
Software Suite Visit www.soundblaster.com to download the latest drivers and applications available for your audio device. The following applications are designed for you to access the basic as well as the advanced features of your audio device. Creative Software Suite For PC: • Sound Blaster Recon3D Control Panel • Creative ALchemy • Creative System Information For Mac: • Sound Blaster Recon3D Control Panel NOTE • The applications available for your audio device may differ from those listed here.
Troubleshooting Problems with Multiple Audio Devices The onboard audio chipset seems to be in conflict with Sound Blaster Recon3D. Disable your computer's onboard audio chipset. See your computer's motherboard documentation for details. Problems with Sound No sound from the audio device. Check the following: • The audio device is connected properly to your console or PC/Mac. • You have configured your console or PC/Mac to output audio through the audio device.
Safety Information Refer to the following information to use your product safely, and to reduce the chance of electric shock, short-circuiting, damage, fire, hearing impairment or other hazards. Improper handling may void the warranty for your product. For more information, read the warranty available with your product. • Read these instructions. • Keep these instructions. • Heed all warnings. • Follow all instructions. • Do not use this apparatus near water. • Clean only with dry cloth.
WEEE DIRECTIVE 2002/96/EC The use of the WEEE Symbol indicates that this product may not be treated as household waste. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help protect the environment. For more detailed information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local authority, your household waste disposal service provider or the shop where you purchased the product.
Regulatory Information Notice for the USA FCC Part 15: 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 can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Notice for Canada This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. CANADIAN CLASS B STATEMENT: This digital device does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the interference-causing equipment standard entitled “Digital Apparatus,” ICES-003 of the Department of Communications.