Creative SoundBlaster Extigy

Optimising USB performance

Being a USB device, Extigy doesn’t perform as well as a PCI/Integrated Soundcard will, though there are some things you can do to ensure best performance & thus more trouble-free operation of the Extigy.

For starters ensure you have the latest USB Drivers installed for your USB Controller(s). You can find links to these in on our OS Updates page. For add-on, or other, USB Controllers check the Manufacturer’s website.

Now Right click on My Computer & select Properties. Now select the Hardware tab then the Device Manager button (Or Windows 98/Me just the Device Manager tab). Scroll down to the Universal Serial Bus controllers & expand it then right click on the USB controller(s) listed & select Properties.

Ensure that the Extigy (In 2000/XP at least it’ll be named USB Composite Device here) is listed as the only device connected to the controller. Should you find other USB devices listed here along with the Extigy be sure to move them to another USB controller, if at all possible, to ensure the Extigy has access to all available USB bandwidth of that controller.

Finally, Tick Disable USB error detection (Don’t tell me about USB errors in Windows XP) then select OK (This may have no beneficial effect for some, though many report there to be some performance benefit from this).

Configuration

Click on Start, (All) Programs, Creative, Sound Blaster Extigy & select Creative Audio Mixer.

Speakers. When set to Auto the Extigy will automatically determine the Speaker output mode to use based on the outputs currently connected to it, which is recommended. Should this auto-detection not work correctly with your setup though try selecting the appropriate option, e.g. 5.1 Speakers instead.

Volume. Use the slider bar here to set the global volume level for Audio output. Move this slider to Up to increase the global volume level & vice versa. It is generally recommended that you set these to 70% or thereabouts if you intend to adjust the Bass/Treble levels, this will reduce the amount of amplification the Soundcard can apply to a source, which could cause audio artefacts at higher levels. Although should you not intend to be adjust the Bass/Treble levels then you should be able to increase the volume level to a much greater level without compromising quality. This setting is of course affected by the volume level you’ve set your speakers too, so you may need to adjust the volume level of your speakers as well.

Bass. This slider bar controls the level of amplification for perceivable lower range audio frequencies (20Hz – 250Hz). Move this slider Up to increase this level & vice versa.

Treble. This slider bar controls the level of amplification for perceivable higher range audio frequencies (6kHz –20kHz). Move this slider Up to increase this level & vice versa.

Fade. This slider can be used to adjust the volume balance between the Front & Rear speakers. This is particularly useful if your speakers are not placed equidistant from you. Should you find audio output from the front/rear seems weaker/lower than the other try moving the position of the slider bar towards the effected speakers. Otherwise you should leave this in the Middle (Press the Yellow button to set it to this).

Balance. This slider can be used to adjust the volume balance between the Left & Right speakers. This is particularly useful if your speakers are not placed equidistant from you. Should you find audio output from one side to seem weaker than the other try changing the position of the slider bar over to the affected side. Otherwise you should leave this in the Middle (Press the Yellow button to set it to this).

Wave/MP3, MIDI, etc. These sliders can be used to adjust the volume level of different audio sources, moving a slider Up will increase the volume level of a source & vice versa. Adjust this to your own preferences.