F. A. Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Product | SiXPack 5.1+
Status | 16.10.2002
Version | 1.3
Questions and Answers | 16

Please ensure that you are using the latest driver version. You can obtain the latest drivers from our webpage.

Internet | TerraTec Electronic GmbH
A http://www.terratec.com | Herrenpfad 38
ftp://ftp.terratec.de | D-41334 Nettetal Germany

The Questions in Overview ...

Question 1:
Do I have to move jumpers or change the dip switch settings before I install the sound card?
Question 2:
During the driver installation the system asks to overwrite the files "ksuser.dll" and "stream.sys". What should I do?
Question 3:
I cannot change the IRQ of my SiXPack 5.1+ in Device Manager.
Question 4:
There is no sound coming from the sound card.
Question 5:
How do I record from my hi-fi system?
Question 6:
The digital input cannot be synchronized to the digital output of the CD-ROM drive.
Question 7:
Background noise is continuously coming over the speakers. What can I do?
Question 8:
Ever since I connected my sound card to my stereo system, I hear a constant hum.
Question 9:
Is the MIDI port on the sound card compatible with the Roland MPU-401 standard?
Question 10:
I can't get the MacroFX effect to work.
Question 11:
The positioning for 2D sources doesn't work. What can I do?
Question 12:
A keyboard connected to the sound card does not react when I hit a key.
Question 13:
Where cAan I get new drivers and utilities for my sound card?

Question 14:
The force feedback of a ForceFeedback joystick connected to SiXPack 5.1+ does not function.

Question 15:
When a digital source is played over the digital In of the soundcard there are clicks and pops in the sound. What can I do about it?

Question 16:
Under Windows 98 SE it is not possible to send AC3 or DTS streams. What can I do?

Question 1:

Do I have to move jumpers or change the dip switch settings before I install the sound card?

Answer 1:

These jumper settings are possible:

Jumper | Position A | Effect | A Position B | Effect
JP1 | 3 - 5 4 - 6 | This Position will activate Line IN | 1 - 3 2 - 4 | At this position you can use the Line IN as Headphone Out
JP2 | 3 - 5 4 - 6 | TTL ( CD IN ) | 1 - 3 2 - 4 | S / PDIF IN
JP3 | 1 - 2 | DIG IN External activ | 2 - A3 | DIG IN Internal activ

* The shipping status is like position A.

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Question 2:

During the driver installation the system asks to overwrite the files "ksuser.dll" and "stream.sys". What should I do?

Answer 2:

This will occur when Direct X 8.0 is already installed. You need to keep these files. Don't overwrite them.

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Question 3:

I cannot change the IRQ of my SiXPack 5.1+ in Device Manager.

Answer 3:

PCI cards are configured automatically via the BIOS, Plug & Play or ACPI of the operating system. These mechanisms do not allow for the manual alteration of the IRQ via the Device Manager. If it were necessary to assign another IRQ to the card, it is possible to install the card into anotAher PCI slot, possibly swapping the slots with another card. In addition, some BIOS versions offer the option of permanently assigning IRQs to individual PCI slots. In any event, get advice from the manual for your motherboard.

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Question 4:

There is no sound coming from the sound card.

Answer 4:

- If you are only using one pair of speakers, ensure that you have used the first Line output (Line-Out 1)

- Check the connections between sound card and loudspeakers.
- Are the active speakers or Hifi system turned on?
- Check the control settings of the SiXPack 5.1+ mixer. Ensure in particular that none of the mute switches have been activated because this would turn off the sound output.

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Question 5:

How do I record from my hi-fi system?

Answer 5:

- Connect the line-out socket on your hi-fi system to the line-in socket on the sounAd card.

- Use the Record Out socket or the Tape Play socket on the tape section of your hi-fi amplifier.

- Then you will have to specify LINE IN as the recording source in the SiXPack 5.1+ mixer under “RECORD”.

- Then call up recording software, such as the supplied Wavelab Lite or the audio recorder in Windows 95/98.

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Question 6:

The digital input cannot be synchronized to the digital output of the CD-ROM drive.

Answer 6:

- First ensure that you have properly connected the supplied cable to the CD-ROM drive.
- The digital output on the CD-ROM drive only outputs pure audio information, therefore it is essential that there is an audio CD in the drive and not an MP3 collection that you have burned yourself, for example.
- As standard, the SiXPack 5.1+ digital input is set to TTL signal level via the jumper (JP2), which usually corresponds to the level of most CD-ROM drives. However, there are exceptions which mean that changing the jumper JP2 to S/PDIF level will result in success in these cases.
- If the Problem persists, ensure that the digital output of the CD-ROM drive isA in fact supplying a signal.
- Set the JP3 jumper to internal

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Question 7:

Background noise is continuously coming over the speakers, what can I do?

Answer 7:

When the sound card was being designed, value was placed on incorporating the best audio properties. Nevertheless, it is still possible that in certain computer configurations inserting graphics and video cards, hard drive controllers or even power supply units can have an effect on the audio signal. Generally, the built-in amplifier is very sensitive to this. Use active speakers or your hi-fi system on the line output. When installing the sound card in your computer, try to place it as far away as possible from the sources of interference mentioned above. Switch the microphone input to mute when not in use.

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Question 8:

Ever since I connected my sound card to my stereo system, I can hear a constant hum.

Answer 8:

A

The hum (50 Hz) comes from the 220 V power supply. It is caused by a ground loop. This loop is created when two devices are grounded by a ground wire or other wire (e.g. antenna cable), and are also connected to an audio cable. The humming will disappear if the direct conducting connection is removed – either with a sheath current filter that is connected into the antenna line (in specialty stores, approx. US$ 10), or with an audio transmitter that eliminates the direct coupling of the audio output (PC) and the input (HiFi amplifier) (e.g. Conrad, Order No. 31 14 05 and in car HiFi stores). If you remove the antenna cable from the receiver/tuner and the hum disappears, then the sheath current filter will help. If the hum is audible even without the antenna cable, the cause of the problem is a doubled ground on the mains plugs and can be resolved using an isolating transformer.

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Question 9:

Is the MIDI port on the sound card compatible with the Roland MPU-401 standard?

Answer 9:

The sound card supports both the Sound Blaster MIDI mode as well as the MPU-401 UART mode (not the SMART mode, this does not affect performance since most programs support MPU-401 UART mode). Programs which are set up for MPU-401 mode directly support your sound card when a wavetable is being used.

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Question 10:

I can't get the MacroFX effect to work.

Answer 10:

Check the settings in the SiXPack 5.1+ mixer. MacroFX operates with a volume increase. If you have set the controller to maximum, the card cannot increase the volume further and the effect is barely perceivable.

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Question 11:

The positioning for 2D sources doesn't work. What can I do?

Answer 11:

To use this feature you have to activate the Sensaura and EAX support.

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Question 12:

A keyboard connected to the sound card does not react when I hit a key.

Answer 12:

- First, make sure that the driver for communicating with the keyboard has been installed. The driver for this card is called 'SiXPack 5.1+ External MIDI' and should be found in the Control Panel in System under Device Manager. If it is not there, reinstall the current drivers.
- If the driver is installed, it must be selected as the MIDI input device in the respective sequencer software. Please see your sequencer manual for details on this. Most sequencer programs have a menu item labeled “Setup/MIDI Devices”, where you can select MIDI input and MIDI output devices.
- If both these conditions are satisfied and the problem persists, in other words the software does not react when you hit a key or no sound is audible, the MIDI connecting cable is almost certainly the cause of the trouble. Experience has shown that there's an enormous number of different MIDI connector cables which unfortunately are all identical in appearance. These cables should contain a so-called optocoupler suitable for the sound card's levels. As it's not possible to check this from the outside, always use the sound card manufacturer's MIDI cable. As a result of this problem, our product range includes such a cable which you can obtain from your equipment retailer.

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Question 13:

Where can I get new drivers and utilities for Amy sound card?

Answer 13:

You can always obtain current drivers and software versions from the ReActor BBS at +49 2157-817924 (analog) and +49 2157-817942 (ISDN). You also have access to them through our Internet sites (http://www.terratec.net). Here, you can obtain current information about our products and hot new tools for your sound card.

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Question 14:

The force feedback of a ForceFeedback joystick connected the SiXPack 5.1+ does not work.

Answer 14:

The MIDI lines for ForceFeedback transmission are usually used for another purpose. Ensure that the SiXPack 5.1+ Game Device interface is given its own IRQ and always use the most up-to-date software for your ForceFeedback joystick.

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Question 15:

When a digital source is played over the digital In of the soundcard there are clicks and pops in the sound. What can I do about it?

Answer 15:
In some cases it can happen that the digital input can't correctlAy synch itself. In such cases deactivating the digital input and then reactivating it should help.

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Question 16:

Under Windows 98 SE it is not possible to send AC3 or DTS streams. What can I do?

Answer 16:
The problem is in the operating system. For Windows 98SE to be able to send an AC3 or DTS stream, a soundcard with the older VxD driver architecture is needed.
The SixPack 5.1+ uses the newer WDM driver architecture, which does support this function, but requires QFE (Quick Fix Engineering) from Microsoft ( which hasnt yet been authorized) in order to work under Windows 98SE. Further problems are present in the DVD software. Here modifications from the manufacturers are also necessary.
Operating systems that do support the WDM driver architecture completely are:
Windows ME / 2000 / XP

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TerraTec Electronic GmbH
Herrenpfad 38
D-41334 Nettetal
Tel: | +49-2157-8179-0
Fax: | +49-2157-8179-22
Hotline: | +49-2157-8179-14
FTP | ftp://ftp.terratec.de
WWW | http://www.terratec.com