Platinum eX Bundle
Creative was kind to send us the best Audigy product available so that we can give you a close look at what's in the box. However, do note that some of these items things may not be found in all versions of the Platinum eX product, because Creative changes the contents in different regions.
Hardware
- Sound Blaster Audigy card (SB0090)
- Audigy Extension Card
- External Audigy Drive
- Audigy Drive IR Remote (RM-900B)
Accessories
- 2 Mini-DIN to DIN adapter cables for connecting MIDI cables to the Audigy Drive
- 4 rubber feet for the external Audigy Drive
- 2 non-alkaline AAA batteries for the remote control (No, we're not picky. Creative mentioned "non-alkaline" in the guide, so we thought we'll pass it along.)
- 3.5mm minijack to 1/4" jack adapter to connect minijack devices like microphones and portable earphones to the 1/4" line-in, microphone and headphone jacks on the Audigy Drive
- Microphone (SD-50): An upgraded version of the Telex microphone Creative bundled with past Sound Blasters for many years. This new mic has a flexible arm and an alternative mount (the little oval thing to the right of the base) that can be attached to a flat surface like the top of a monitor.
Cables
- Audigy Extension cable: A thick cable to connect the Audigy Extension card to the external Audigy Drive. Also includes the joystick/MIDI connector.
The sturdy Audigy Extension Cable
- SB1394 cable: Passes the SB1394 signal internally from the Audigy card to the Extension Card, so that the SB1394 port on the external Audigy Drive works
- AUD_EXT/Joystick cable: the flat cable to connect the Audigy card to the Audigy Drive
SB1394 Cable |
AUD_EXT/Joystick flat cable |
- Power splitter cable: Connects to the Audigy Extension Card to power the external Audigy Drive
- Analog CD Audio cable
- Digital CD Audio cable
The package also loses the nice mini-jack to TOSLink optical cable that came with some Live! Platinum 5.1 bundles. This cable doesn't come cheap and eliminating it from the Platinum eX bundle would probably save Creative some money.
Printed Material
- Quick Start leaflet
- Warranty card
- Technical support leaflet
Here are the CDs that came with our package. There's even a certificate signed by Creative CEO, Sim Wong Hoo, which "certifies" the "24-bit 100 dB SNR" of the Audigy. The quick start leaflet pictured below the cert.
We also got an interesting Audio Performance Data document in our Press Edition of the Platinum eX. It has graphs and charts about the various technical audio measurements of the Audigy card.
Unfortunately, there's no printed manual. Instead, the manual is found in an Acrobat PDF document on the CD and is also copied to the hard drive when the drivers are installed. A sign of cost-cutting perhaps?
Of course, there's also the standard suite of Creative applications and driver utilities that are detailed on the next page.
A mixture of these applications are provided, but some may be missing from the Platinum eX version in your country depending on the region, particularly Europe and the rest of the world. Check the Sound Blaster site for the latest list of applications bundled.
- Sonic Foundry ACID DJ 2.0
- Beatnik: Mixman Studio Remixer
- FruityLoops (Creative Edition)
- iM Tuner: A Creative-skinned version of iM Networks' Internet radio application
- Steinberg Cubasis VST (Creative Edition with ASIO)
- Steinberg WaveLab Lite
- Steinberg ReCycle Lite
- MixMeister: A DJ cum digital music tool
- Ulead VideoStudio Version 4.0 SE Basic: A video editor if you happen to own a Firewire DVcam
- Unibrain FireNet: Provides IEEE 1394 network support
Creative has a history of a providing great software bundles with their Sound Blaster cards ever since the early 90s, and the Audigy is no exception.
However, we would really prefer that Creative remove VideoStudio and replace it with a DVD playback software like WinDVD or PowerDVD. Tout Dolby Digital decoding in the sound card and yet there's no DVD playback software? Come on, Creative!
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