Copyright: ® Creative Technology Ltd.


Help Contents
 Contents

Overview

What is Creative EnsembleAV?

Creative EnsembleCD

The Interface

Knowing the Interface

Working with the EnsembleCD

Playing Tracks

Adjusting the Volume

Changing a Track's Playing Position

Compiling a Playlist : The Playlist Dialog

Repeating the Playlist

Scanning Tracks in the Playlist

Shuffling the Playlist

Selecting a CD Drive

Moving the EnsembleCD

Minimizing the EnsembleCD

Quitting the EnsembleCD

Keyboard Shortcuts


What is Creative EnsembleAV?

Creative EnsembleAV is a multi-player control interface that allows you to control your multimedia devices, like your CD-ROM drives and overlay device, independently or concurrently. It consists of the EnsembleRemote and one or more EnsembleAV players; examples are the EnsembleCD, EnsembleWave and EnsembleMIDI. With the EnsembleRemote, Creative EnsembleAV not only allows you to control different devices from one control interface, thus saving you lots of screen space, it also allows you to invoke any of the EnsembleAV players if you require more direct control over a device.


Creative EnsembleCD

The Creative EnsembleCD [image] is one of the players in the Creative EnsembleAV. Behaving like a home CD player, it lets you play audio CDs from your PC's CD-ROM drives. In addition, it has some advanced features which include:

•	ability to be controlled by the EnsembleRemote,

•	a "touch-sensitive" display,

•	multiple display forms,

•	multiple CD drive control,

•	fine control of track's playing position,

•	Introduction Mode, Repeat Mode and Shuffle Mode for playback,

•	playlist compilation of your CD tracks,

•	fast track selection, and

•	direct CD volume control.


Knowing the Interface

When you invoke the EnsembleCD, the EnsembleCD interface appears as shown below:

Related Topics:

Power Off Button

Menu Button

Minimize Button

Playlist Button

"Touch Sensitive" Display

Fast Track Selector

Playback Control


Power Off Button

The Power Off button [image] allows you to quit the EnsembleCD.

Related Topics:

Quitting the EnsembleCD


Menu Button

The Menu button [image] displays a menu to allow you to select some system and miscellaneous functions.


Minimize Button

The Minimize button [image] minimizes the EnsembleCD to an icon.

Related Topics:

Minimizing the EnsembleCD


Playlist Button

The Playlist button [image] is for activating the Playlist dialog used for compiling a playlist.

Related Topics:

Compiling a Playlist : The Playlist Dialog


"Touch Sensitive" Display

The "Touch Sensitive" Display consists of several "touch sensitive" controls as well as indicators that shows the current playback status and track information. By clicking the "Touch Sensitive" Display, you get to switch between the following three displays:

 CD audio present

 CD audio not present

Display 1. Graphical display of CD drive status

Display 2. Current CD and track titles

Display 3. Current track number and duration of the playing track

In the second and third forms of the "Touch Sensitive" Display, you will see that both have other controls that perform more functions than simply displaying current CD and track titles. These controls are shown below:

 Graphic Volume Control

 Two-digit Mode Selector

 Repeat Mode Selector

 Introduction Mode Selector

 Shuffle Mode Selector

 Player Selector

 Graphic Slider


Fast Track Selector

The Fast Track Selector [image] consists of a group of buttons for quickly selecting a CD track to play.

Related Topics:

Playing Tracks


Playback Control

The Playback Control consists of a group of buttons for performing the playback operations on the CD player. These buttons are shown below:

 Stop button

 Play button

 Pause button

 Skip-Reverse button

 Rewind button

 Fast-Forward button

 Skip-Forward button

 Load/Eject button

Related Topics:

Playing Tracks


Playing Tracks

You can play tracks using the Playback Control buttons on the EnsembleCD. The EnsembleCD plays tracks from the playlist.

If you wish to, you can also select a track and play it using the Fast Track Selector [image] buttons. The following steps show how you can use these buttons to select a track.

When the Two-digit Mode is off, to play a track whose number is less than eleven:

1.	Choose a button from the Fast Track Selector that correspond to the track you want to select.  If you want to select track 10, choose button 0.

The track starts playing.

To play the track whose number is more than ten:

1.	Highlight the Two-digit Mode Selector [image] using the mouse or by pressing <T>.

2.	Choose two buttons on the Fast Track Selector that correspond to the track you want to select.

The track starts playing.

Note: If you choose a track number that is more than the number of tracks in the CD, the last track will be selected.


Adjusting the Volume

You can adjust the volume of the player using the Graphic Volume Control [image] on the "Touch Sensitive" Display.

To adjust the volume:

1.	Click and hold down the left mouse button on the Graphic Volume Control at the level you want.

The level of the Graphic Volume Control will move to the mouse position.

Note: You can use hot keys to change the CD volume level.  Press <V> to select the Graphic Volume Control and use the up and down arrow keys to go to the level you want.


Changing a Track's Playing Position

If you want to start playing a track from a certain position, you can use the Graphic Slider [image] to change the playing position of the track. You can change the playing position of a track before you play it or while it is playing.

To change the track's playing position:

1.	Click and hold down the left mouse button on the Graphic Slider and go to the position that you want the track to start playing.

2.	When the highlighted portion of the Graphic Slider has reached the position you have chosen, release the mouse button.

If your player is already playing, the player will immediately go to the position you have chosen and start playing.

3.	If your player is not playing, choose the Play button [image] to start playing the track at the position you have chosen.

Note: You can use hot keys to change the track's playing position.  Press <G> to select the Graphic Slider and use the left and right arrow keys to go to the position you want.


Compiling a Playlist : The Playlist Dialog

You can compile a list of tracks on the EnsembleCD using the Playlist dialog box.

To obtain the Playlist dialog:

1. 	Choose the Playlist button [image] using the mouse or by pressing <L>.

The Playlist dialog appears.

The Playlist dialog contains the following components as listed below:

Components	Purpose
CD Artist/Title edit box	Allows you to name your CD.
Track Title edit box	Allows you to name the tracks on your CD.
Playlist list box	Displays the tracks that are in the playlist in the form of sequence number:track title.
Track List list box	Displays the tracks on your CD in sequence.
Play button	Plays the selected tracks on the Playlist or Track List list box.
Add button	Includes the selected tracks in the Track List list box to the Playlist list box.
Add All button	Includes all tracks in the Track List list box to the Playlist list box.
Remove button	Removes the selected tracks from the Playlist list box.
Clear button	Clears the tracks in the Playlist list box.
Done button	Confirms the compilation of tracks in the Playlist list box.
Cancel button	Cancels changes made to track in the Playlist list box. The playlist reverts to its last saved copy for the CD.
Help button	Displays the on-line help facility.

In the Playlist dialog, you can preview tracks before deciding to add them to the playlist, add tracks to the playlist, rearrange the tracks in the playlist, and give names to the playlist and tracks.  When you are satisfied with your compilation, choose the Done button to confirm the compilation.  Choose the Cancel button to cancel all changes made.

Note: Changes to the CD title and track names would be updated regardless of whether the Done or Cancel button is chosen.

Related Topics:

Previewing Tracks

Adding Tracks to the Playlist

Removing Tracks from the Playlist

Rearranging Tracks in the Playlist

Naming the Playlist

Naming the Tracks


Previewing Tracks

Before you decide to add any tracks to the playlist, you may wish to preview the tracks.

To preview a track:

1.	Select the tracks from Playlist or Track List list boxes.

2.	Choose the Play button.

The track starts playing.

Note: You can also preview a track by double-clicking on the track in either list box.


Adding Tracks to the Playlist

You can add tracks to the playlist one at a time or in groups.

To add a track to the playlist:

1.	Select the track from the Track List list box.

2.	Choose the Add button.

The track is added to the playlist.

To add a group of tracks to the playlist:

1.	Select the tracks from the Track List list box while pressing the <Ctrl> or <Shift> key.

By pressing the <Ctrl> key, you are able to randomly select the tracks.

By pressing the <Shift> key, you only need to select the first and last tracks. All tracks in between these tracks will be selected.

2.	Choose the Add button.

The selected tracks are added to the playlist.

Note: Choose the Add All button to add all the tracks in the Track List list box to the playlist.


Removing Tracks from the Playlist

If you decide that you do not want a track or group of tracks in the playlist anymore, you can remove it.  In the same way as adding tracks to the playlist, you can remove tracks one at a time or in groups.

To remove a track from the playlist:

1.	Select the track from the Playlist list box.

2.	Choose the Remove button.

The track is removed from the playlist.

To remove a group of tracks from the playlist:

1.	Select the tracks from the Playlist list box while pressing the <Ctrl> or <Shift> key.

By pressing the <Ctrl> key, you are able to randomly select the tracks.

By pressing the <Shift> key, you only need to select the first and last tracks. All tracks in between these tracks will be selected.

2.	Choose the Remove button.

The selected tracks are removed from the playlist.

Note: Choose the Clear button to remove all the tracks in the Playlist list box.


Rearranging Tracks in the Playlist

The tracks in the playlist can be rearranged to play in the order you like by using the right mouse button.

To rearrange a track in the playlist:

1.	Click and hold down the right mouse button on a track you want to rearrange, and drag it to the desired position in the Playlist list box.

The track will be changed to that position, and consequent tracks will be rearranged below it in the Playlist list box.


Naming the Playlist

Once you have compiled your playlist, you may want to give the playlist a title.

To give your playlist a title:

1.	Highlight the CD Artist/Title edit box.

2.	Type the title in the edit box.

3.	Press <Enter>.


Naming the Tracks

You can name the tracks on your CD.

To name the tracks:

1.	Select the track in the Track List list box.

The track appears in the Track Title edit box.

2.	Highlight the track in the Track Title edit box.

3.	Type the name of the track and press <Enter>.

The track changes to the new name and the next track in the Track List edit box is highlighted on the Track Title edit box.

4.	Repeat Step 4 until you are satisfied with the names of the tracks.

If you are not satisfied with the name you have given to a track, you can use the arrow keys in the Track Title edit box to go to the track.  When it is highlighted, type the new name and press <Enter>.


Repeating the Playlist

To repeat the playlist:

1.	Highlight the Repeat Mode Selector [image] in the "Touch Sensitive" Display using the mouse or by pressing <M>.


Scanning Tracks in the Playlist

To scan the tracks in the playlist:

1.	Highlight the Introduction Mode Selector [image] in the "Touch Sensitive" Display using the mouse or by pressing <I>.

Note: If the player is playing, toggling the Introduction Mode would stop the current playback and restart playing from the first track of the playlist.


Shuffling the Playlist

When you shuffle the playlist, you randomly rearrange the tracks in the playlist.

To shuffle the playlist:

1.	Highlight the Shuffle Mode Selector [image] in the "Touch Sensitive" Display using the mouse or by pressing <H>.

Note: If the player is playing, toggling the Shuffle Mode would stop the current playback and restart playing from the first track of the newly ordered playlist.


Selecting a CD Drive

To select a CD drive to control, click on the Player Selector [image] in the "Touch Sensitive" Display, depending on which drive you want to control and the number of CD drives available in your system.


Moving the EnsembleCD

To move the EnsembleCD, simply click on the surface of the player and drag it to the position you want.


Minimizing the EnsembleCD

To minimize the EnsembleCD to an icon:

1.	Choose the Minimize button [image] using the mouse or by pressing <N>.

The EnsembleCD changes to an icon.


Quitting the EnsembleCD

To quit the EnsembleCD:

1.	Choose the Power Off button [image] using the mouse or by pressing <O>.


Keyboard Shortcuts

Press	To do this
<O>	Power off the player.
<Alt+Spacebar>	Activates the menu.
<N>	Minimizes the player.
<P>	Plays a selected track.
<A>	Pauses the playing track.
<S>	Stops the playing track.
<B>	Plays the previous track.
<K>	Quickly rewinds the track.
<W>	Quickly forwards the track.
<F>	Plays the next track.
<E>	Loads or unloads the CD.
<L>	Launches the Playlist dialog.
<M>	Toggles the Repeat Mode.
<I>	Toggles the Introduction Mode.
<H>	Toggles the Shuffle Mode.
<G>	Selects the Graphic Slider.
<V>	Selects the Graphic Volume Control.
<C>	Change to CD drive 1.
<X>	Change to CD drive 2.
<Y>	Change to CD drive 3.
<Z>	Change to CD drive 4.
<1>	Input digit "1".
<2>	Input digit "2".
<3>	Input digit "3".
<4>	Input digit "4".
<5>	Input digit "5".
<6>	Input digit "6".
<7>	Input digit "7".
<8>	Input digit "8".
<9>	Input digit "9".
<0>	Input digit "0".
<F1>	Activates the on-line help.
<Ctrl+D>	Switches the display mode.


Glossary of Terms

Playlist

Player Selector

Shuffle Mode Selector

Introduction Mode Selector

Repeat Mode Selector

Two-digit Mode Selector

Graphic Volume Control

Graphic Slider

Stop button

Play button

Pause button

Skip-Reverse button

Rewind button

Fast-Forward button

Skip-Forward button

Load/Eject button


Playlist

A list of tracks ordered by the user. During playback, the player would look for tracks in this list to play.


Player Selector

This selector allows you to control up to four CD drives: CD 1, CD 2, CD 3, and CD 4, if you have more than one CD Drive installed in your system. The highlighted CD drive is the one that is currently controlled by the player.


Shuffle Mode Selector

This selector toggles the Shuffle Mode of the player. When this mode is activated, the order of the tracks in the playlist will be randomized. When deactivated, the order of the tracks in the playlist will be restored.


Introduction Mode Selector

This selector toggles the Introduction Mode of the player. When in this mode, the player will play only the first few seconds of all the tracks.


Repeat Mode Selector

This selector toggles the Repeat Mode of the player. When in this mode, after the player has finished playing the last track of the playlist, it will loop back and continue playing from the first track of the playlist. When not in this mode, the player will stop playback once it finishes the last track of the playlist.


Two-digit Mode Selector

This selector toggles between single-digit and double-digit track number input when using the Fast Track Selector to select the track to play.


Graphic Volume Control

This control shows and controls the volume level of the player.


Graphic Slider

A slider that indicates the percentage of the current track that has been played.  It can also be used to control the position of the track to play.


Stop button

This button stops the playing track.


Play button

This button plays the chosen track.


Pause button

This pauses the playing track.


Skip-Reverse button

This button plays the previous track.


Rewind button

This button quickly rewinds the track.


Fast-Forward button

This button quickly forwards the track.


Skip-Forward button

This button plays the next track.


Load/Eject button

This button loads or unloads the CD.