Sound Blaster PCI128 User Guide On-line Version
Contents Introduction ......................................................................................... ix System Requirements .................................................................................................................................ix Latest Information.......................................................................................................................................ix Document Conventions ....................................................................
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................17 No sound is heard from audio (music) CDs.................................................................................17 Joystick port is not working ..........................................................................................................17 Determining your Windows version.............................................................................................
The colored insert in this manual gives you the latest information about your audio card, and contact information for Creative Labs. Sound Blaster PCI128 uses the latest music synthesis technology to play many notes simultaneously, creating a new dimension for musical and multimedia applications. Creative’s Sound Blaster PCI128 is upgradeable with user-selectable banks for loading wave-table samples (digital instrument and sound samples).
The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document: Bold Bold face type identifies words and phrases that are to be entered exactly as shown. For example: SET SOUND=C:\SB16 Italic Italic type identifies words and phrases that are to be replaced by you. For example: DEVICE=C:\SBCD\DRV\SBIDE.SYS /D:MSCD001 /P:xxx,yy In the example, you must supply a value for xxx,yy. Italic in the text emphasizes or identifies a word or phrase that is being defined.
1 Installing Your Audio Card Most of the items you need for installation are included. The following illustration shows the basic components necessary for a complete installation. ENGLISH What You Need Creative Audio Software Installing your audio card requires you to perform the following steps: • Install the audio card • Install the Creative audio software • Test the installation.
Before you remove the computer cover, touch a grounded metal surface to discharge static electricity. To install the audio card: 1. Turn off your computer, and disconnect the power cable. 2. Disconnect the monitor and other devices that are connected to the computer. 3. Remove the computer cover. 3 2 ENGLISH Installing the Audio Card 1 Remove or disable any existing audio card and its driver from your computer. Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for details. 4.
6 ENGLISH 6. Align the gold-striped tabs on the bottom of the audio card with the PCI slot, and firmly press the card into place until it fits snugly. 7. Use the screw from the slot cover to secure the audio card to the frame of the computer—securing the card assures proper grounding. 8. Connect the CD audio cable from your CD-ROM drive to the audio card CD_IN connector.
. Connect your speakers, headphones, microphone, joystick, MIDI devices, or other devices to the back panel of the audio card. Stereo, CD player, tape deck, etc. Microphone You may connect passive speakers to the Sound Blaster PCI128 but you must first enable the amplifier on the audio card. See the colored insert for details. ENGLISH Joystick MIDI device Powered speakers (front), headphones, or amplifier Powered speakers (rear) or amplifier 10. Replace the computer cover. 11.
The Sound Blaster PCI128 Software CD contains drivers necessary for operation and utilities to make the most of the audio card. The software installation varies according to your computer’s operating system: • Windows 95 • Windows 98 • Windows NT Windows 95 When you turn on your computer, Windows 95 automatically detects the new hardware, and prompts you for the software installation disk. The installation may vary from the instructions below based upon previously installed software and hardware.
6 7. Next, the Software License Agreement appears. Read the text and click on the Yes button if you accept the terms of the agreement. The README file follows. Please read the file for any last minute information not included in this manual. Click Next when finished. 7 Installing Your Audio Card 6 ENGLISH Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, right-click your CD-ROM drive icon, and click on AutoPlay to start the Creative audio software install if the CD is in the drive. 5.
8. Next, you are asked to accept the default destination directory, or enter a new directory. When the directory is correct, click the Next button. ENGLISH 8 9. Next, the Setup Options are displayed. When you select an option, the installation continues. 9 10. The Select Program Folder dialog allows you to select the folder to which the audio software is to be installed, or you may confirm the default selection. Click the Next button when the Program Folder is correct.
11 ENGLISH 11. The Installation Information dialog lists the installation selections you have made. To make changes to your selections, click on the Back button until you reach the screen with the option to be changed. Then, click Next until you are returned to the Installation Information dialog. If the information is correct, click the Next button to continue. 12.
Windows 98 The following instructions describe the Sound Blaster PCI128 installation in Windows 98. 1. The Windows 98 Add New Hardware Wizard automatically detects the Sound Blaster PCI128 and attempts to locate the driver media provided by the manufacturer. Insert the Sound Blaster PCI128 installation CD and click the Next button. 2. Select the Search For The Best Driver For Your Device (Recommended) option and click the Next button. 3.
To test the installation: 1. Click in the task bar; select Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, and Media Player from the menus. The Windows Media Player appears. 1 ENGLISH Testing the Installation If no sound is heard, see page 22 in the troubleshooting section for 2. Open a wave file, such as THE MICROSOFT SOUND.WAV, and select the Play ( ) button. You should hear the 2 wave file being played. 3. Open a MIDI file, such as CANYON.MID, and select the Play ( ) button.
The Mixer is installed with the Sound Blaster PCI128 drivers and other software; an icon is added to the Taskbar in the right corner. You may open the Mixer by double-clicking on the icon in the Taskbar. ENGLISH Creative Mixer The Show menu allows you to customize the Mixer display to include only those panels you select. Additional panels not included in the figure above include sliders for Auxiliary, Modem, and TV devices, and a list of Voice input devices.
• Always on Top places the Mixer on top of other active windows. This feature allows you to dynamically adjust the settings for sound currently being input/output. • Voice Control Only limits the Mixer display to only the main volume control. You can select the panels to be included in the display from the list on the Options menu. • Save Options Now/On Exit allow you to use the Save command to suit your needs.
Advanced Configurations Resolving Hardware Conflicts Hardware conflicts occur when two or more devices contend for the same resources. Conflicts between your audio card and another device may occur regarding the I/O address, IRQ line, or DMA channel. To resolve hardware conflicts: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and select Properties. The System Properties dialog appears. In the Device Manager, a [+] represents an expandable list of items. A [-] represents an expanded list.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Close all audio card applications before running the uninstall procedure. If a card’s application is running during the uninstall procedure, that application is not uninstalled. The Windows 95 Uninstall utility allows you to remove applications and to re-install them to correct problems, change configurations, or make upgrades. To uninstall the software: 1. Click on the taskbar, and select Settings from the Start menu. 2. Select Control Panel. The Control Panel group appears. 3.
Connecting a Joystick The joystick port on the audio card is a standard PC game control adapter or game I/O port. You can connect most analog joysticks with a 15-pin D-sub connector directly to the port; it works with any application that is compatible with standard PC joysticks. Connecting a MIDI Device The audio card supports the following MIDI standards: • MPU-401 UART • Sound Blaster MIDI To connect a MIDI device to the audio card, you need a MIDI cable adapter.
Troubleshooting 3 No sound is heard from audio (music) CDs Various conditions may be responsible. To troubleshoot, please check the following: • Creative Mixer or Microsoft Volume Control mute options and volume sliders. (Refer to the online Sound Blaster PCI128 User’s Guide or Help, or on-line help for detailed information.) • Connect headphones to the stereo phone jack on your CD-ROM drive’s front panel, and adjust the volume control settings on the drive.
To determine your Windows 95 version number: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon, and select Properties. The System Properties dialog appears. 2. On the General tab, note your Windows 95 version number. Possible version numbers are: q 4.00.950 q 4.00.950A q 4.00.950B Computer hangs or restarts during installation 1 2 ENGLISH Determining your Windows version A hardware conflict may cause the computer to hang or restart during the installation procedure.
To manually configure your audio card for Windows 95: 1. Click on the taskbar, and select Settings from the Start menu. 2. Select Control Panel. The Control Panel group appears. 3. Double-click the Add New Hardware icon. The Add New Hardware Wizard dialog appears. 2 1 3 ENGLISH Audio card is not automatically detected 4. Select Next to continue. 4 5. Choose Yes to have Windows search for new hardware, then select Next.
6. Select Next to continue. 6 ENGLISH 7. Select Finish, and follow the prompts to complete the new hardware installation.
To enable the “Auto insert notification” feature: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and select Properties. The System Properties dialog appears. 2. Click the Device Manager tab. A list of devices appears. 3. Double-click CD-ROM, and select your CD-ROM drive. 4. Choose the Properties button. The CD-ROM drive properties dialog appears. 5. Choose the Settings tab. 6. Click the “Auto insert notification” option to enable. 7.
To troubleshoot, please verify the following: • Check the Mixer or Microsoft Volume Control mute options and volume sliders. (Refer to the online Sound Blaster PCI128 User’s Guide or Help, or Windows on-line help for detailed information.) • Ensure the speakers are properly connected to the audio card’s output connector. (See the colored insert for detailed connection information.) • Check the volume control and power connection of the speakers, if they are amplified.
Details Sound Blaster PCI128 This insert contains specific information for your Sound Blaster PCI128 audio card, any last minute information, and contact information for Creative Labs. Refer to your Getting Started manual, “Installing Your Audio Card” on page 1, for installation instructions for your audio card. The illustration below identifies the audio card’s features.
English Español Français Português 1 CD Audio connector Connects a CD-ROM drive using a CD audio cable. Conector para entrada de CD (CD_IN) Conectan la unidad de CD-ROM mediante un cable de sonido de CD. Connecteur CD-audio (CD_IN) Permet de connecter un lecteur de CD-ROM en utilisant un câble CD-audio. Conectores de Áudio de CD (CD-IN) Conecta uma unidade de CD ROM usando um cabo de áudio de CD. 2 TV/IDE connector Connects video card or IDE CD-ROM for audio input.
General Specifications: Sound Blaster PCI128 English Español Français Português WaveTable Synthesis • Digital effects engine for reverb and chorus • 128-voice polyphony • 16 MIDI channels, 128 GM and GS compatible instruments and 10 drum sets • MT-32 compatible instrument set • 2-, 4-, and 8-MB sample sets included (uses system RAM for wave-table samples) Síntesis por medio de tabla de ondas • Efectos digitales para coro y reverberación • Polifonía de 128 voces • 16 canales MIDI, instrumentos compatibl
English Español Français Português On-Board Connectors • Speaker out • Line-out • Aux in / Rear out • Microphone in • Line in • MIDI/Joystick port • MPC-3 CD Audio in • TV tuner in • TAD I/O Conectores incorporados • Jack de saida des parlantes • Salida de línea • Entrada de Aux • Entrada de micrófono • Entrada de línea • Puerto MIDI/palanca de juego • Entrada de sonido MPC-3 CD • Entrada de sintonizador de la televisión • TAD E/S Connecteurs embarqués • Prise de sortie des haut-parleurs • Sortie de l
Contacting Creative Labs English Español Français Português At Creative, we are committed to giving you the best product as well as the best technical support. Before You Contact Us Please be seated at your computer and have the following information: • Model and serial numbers (usually found on the back of the device) of the product, and date of purchase. • Error message on the screen and how it came about. • Information on the adapter card that conflicts with the product, if applicable.
Product Return English Español Français Português Product Return To return a Creative product for a factory service, contact the Creative Technical Support office. Once the staff has verified the product is defective, you will be given a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. NOTE: Retain your purchase receipt, as well as all packaging and contents, until all product components are functioning to your satisfaction.
