Copyright: Copyright © Creative Technology Ltd.


Help Contents
Contents

Overview

What is Creative Multimedia Decks?

What is Creative CD?

Working with Creative CD

Using the Playlist dialog

Playing tracks

Selecting sound card and volume device

Adjusting the volume

Using the Preferences dialog

Command line processing

Keyboard Shortcuts

TroubleShooting

If Creative CD starts and quits immediately without giving any error messages

If you have problems adjusting the volume

If you encounter error messages

Programming the Creative CD

Programming the Creative CD


What is Creative Multimedia Decks?

Creative Multimedia Decks is a collection of players that allows you to independently or concurrently control multimedia devices like your CD-ROM drive and MIDI device.  It consists of Creative Remote and other players like Creative CD, Creative Wave, and Creative MIDI.


What is Creative CD?

Creative CD operates like a home CD player, letting you play audio CDs from CD-ROM drives on your PC.  In addition, it has some advanced features which include:

•	ability to be controlled by the Creative Remote,

•	OLE Automation support,

•	Plug and Play support,

•	power management support,

•	a "touch-sensitive" display,

•	multiple display forms,

•	fine control of track's playing position,

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

•	playlist compilation of CD tracks into a collection.

•	fast track selection, and

•	direct volume control for multiple sound cards.


Using the Playlist dialog

Compiling a playlist

Adding tracks to the playlist

Previewing tracks

Removing tracks from the playlist

Selecting tracks in the Playlist dialog

Rearrange tracks in the playlist

Changing track title

Assigning artiste name to tracks

Entering notes for tracks

Naming the CD


Compiling a playlist

Creative CD plays tracks from a playlist of tracks.  You can compile a playlist that you want played using the Playlist dialog.

To compile a playlist:

1. 	Choose the Playlist button.

2.	Perform the desired operations in Playlist dialog:

•	Add tracks to the playlist

•	Preview tracks

•	Remove tracks from the playlist

•	Rearrange tracks in the playlist

•	Name the tracks

•	Assign artiste name to tracks in the playlist

•	Enter notes for tracks in the playlist

•	Name the playlist

3.	Choose Done when you have satisfactorily compiled the playlist.  If you wish to cancel all changes made to the playlist, choose Cancel.


Adding tracks to the playlist

To add tracks to the playlist:

1.	Select the tracks to add to the playlist from the Track-list list box.

2.	Choose Add to add the selected tracks, or Add All to add all the tracks in the Track-list list box to the Playlist list box.

Tips

You can also add tracks to the playlist in one of the following ways:

•	Double-clicking the track in the Track-list list box.

•	Dragging selected tracks from the Track-list list box and dropping them into the Playlist list box.

•	Dragging selected tracks from Explorer or File Manager and dropping them into the player.  These tracks will be added to the playlist.  This operation is done outside the Playlist dialog.


Previewing tracks

To preview tracks:

1.	Select the tracks from the Playlist or Track-list list box.

2.	Choose Play.

The track starts playing.


Removing tracks from the playlist

To remove tracks from the playlist:

1.	Select the tracks from the Playlist list box.

2.	Choose Remove to remove selected tracks, or Remove All to remove all tracks in the Playlist list box.

Tips

You can also remove a track from the playlist in one of the following ways:

•	Double-clicking the track in the playlist list box.

•	Pressing the <Ctrl+Shift+R> keys to remove the current track from the playlist. This operation is done outside the Playlist dialog.


Selecting tracks in the Playlist dialog

You can select multiple tracks for previewing, adding, or removing by holding down <Ctrl> or <Shift> while you choose them.

•	To randomly select multiple tracks, hold down <Ctrl> before you select the tracks.

•	To select a group of consecutive tracks, hold down <Shift> and select the first and last tracks in the list.


Rearrange tracks in the playlist

To rearrange a track in the playlist:

1.	Click and hold down the left mouse button on the track in the Playlist list box and drag it to the new position.

The track will be inserted at that position in the Playlist list box.


Changing track title

To change the title of a track:

1.	Select the track.

2.	Type in the track title in the Track Title edit box.


Assigning artiste name to tracks

To assign an artiste name to a track:

1.	Select the track.

2.	For new artiste name, type in the artiste name in the Track Artiste combo box. For existing artiste name in the Track Artiste combo box, select the artiste name in the Artiste Name combo box.

Tips

You can also assign a single artiste name to multiple tracks in the playlist by selecting the tracks and assigning an artiste name.


Entering notes for tracks

To enter notes for a track:

1.	Select the track.

2.	Type in the notes for the track in the Track Notes edit box.

Tips

You can also enter the same notes for multiple tracks by selecting the tracks and entering the notes in the Track Notes edit box.


Naming the CD

To name your CD:

1.	Type the name of the CD in the CD title edit box.


Playing tracks

Starting and stopping a track

Playing a particular track

Pausing and resuming a track

Changing to a different track

Moving forward and backward within a track

Playing tracks in random order

Playing the first few seconds of tracks

Playing tracks in the playlist repeatedly

Playing the current track repeatedly


Starting and stopping a track

To start a track, choose the Play button.

To stop a track, choose the Stop button.


Playing a particular track

To play a particular track:

1.	Choose a button from the Fast Track Selector that corresponds to the track you want.

2.	To choose a double-digit number, click on both digit buttons consecutively within two seconds.  For example, if you want to select track 15, choose button 1 and then button 5.


Pausing and resuming a track

To pause a track, choose the Pause button.

To resume playing a paused track, choose the Play button or Pause button again.


Changing to a different track

To change to the next track in the playlist, choose the Skip Forward button.

To change to the previous track in the playlist, choose the Skip Backward button.


Moving forward and backward within a track

You can also move forward and backward within a track in one of the following ways:

•	Choosing the Fast Forward button or Rewind button.

•	Moving the Graphic Slider to the position of the track you want.

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

If your player is not playing a track, choose the Play button to start playing the track from the chosen position.


Playing tracks in random order

To play tracks in random order, select the Shuffle Mode Selector in the Touch Sensitive Display.  The Shuffle Mode shuffles the playlist and randomly rearranges the playlist.

Note

If the player is already playing tracks, selecting Shuffle Mode stops the current playback and start playback from the first track of the reordered playlist.


Playing the first few seconds of tracks

To play only the first few seconds of all tracks in the playlist, select the Intro Mode Selector in the Touch Sensitive Display.


Playing tracks in the playlist repeatedly

To repeatedly play tracks in the playlist, set the Repeat Mode Selector to Repeat Playlist Mode.


Playing the current track repeatedly

To repeatedly play the current track, set the Repeat Mode Selector to Repeat Track Mode.


Selecting sound card and volume device

Creative CD allows you to control multiple sound cards if you have more than one sound card installed in your system.  It also allows you to control multiple volume devices of the selected sound card.

To select the sound card to control:

1.	Click on the Graphic Volume Slider using your right mouse button or press <Ctrl+Shift+V>.

A popup menu appears showing you the available sound cards.

2.	Selects the sound card you want.

To select the volume device to control:

1.	Click on the Graphic Volume Slider using your right mouse button or press <Ctrl+Shift+V>.

A popup menu appears showing you the volume devices the player can control.

2.	Select the volume device you want.


Adjusting the volume

You can adjust the volume of the player using the Graphic Volume Slider on the Touch Sensitive Display.

To adjust the volume, click and drag the Graphic Volume Slider to a level you want.


Using the Preferences dialog

The Preferences dialog allows you to set preferences for Creative CD.

Related Topics:

Balloon help

Show track time remaining

Minimize on play

Play on startup

Play on new playlist

Intro length

Stop playback on exit

Autoload and play when audio CD inserted

Save settings on exit


Balloon help

Balloon help provides you with information about a control or button that you are currently pointing at.  A message appears giving you a brief description of that control.

You can enable or disable the balloon help of your player by checking or unchecking respectively the "Balloon help" option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Show track time remaining

In addition to displaying the track time played on a track, Creative CD is also able to display the time remaining to play on a track.

You can enable or disable this option by checking or unchecking respectively the "Show track time remaining" option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Minimize on play

Creative CD can automatically be minimized each time it starts playing.

You can enable or disable this option by checking or unchecking respectively the "Minimize on play" option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Play on startup

Creative CD can automatically start playing when it is launched.

You can enable or disable this option by checking or unchecking repectively the "Play on startup" option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Play on new playlist

Creative CD can automatically start playing when the Playlist dialog is closed and there is a change in the playlist.

You can enable or disable this option by checking or unchecking respectively the "Play on new playlist" option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Intro length

Creative CD allows you to specify the amount of time in seconds between tracks when the player is in the intro mode.

You can set the intro length in the Preferences dialog.


Stop playback on exit

When you quit Creative CD, it will issue a command to play from the current track to the end of the CD so that the CD will continue to be played after the player exits. This feature is useful if you want to listen from a particular track to the end of the CD without having the player loaded.

To disable this feature, simply check on the Stop playback on exit item option in the check list box of the Preferences dialog.


Autoload and play when audio CD inserted

Loads Creative CD when an audio CD is inserted into the CD ROM drive and starts playback.


Save settings on exit

If this option is set in the Preferences dialog, Creative CD will save the changes made in the Preferences dialog when it exits.


Command line processing

The following command line switches are supported by the application:

Switch	Description
/play or /p	Starts playback.
/play <track number> or /p <track number>	Plays specified track.
/stop or /s	Stops playback.
<track name>	Add specified track to the collection.
/playdrive <CD ROM drive letter>	Plays the specified drive.


Keyboard Shortcuts

Press	To do this
<Ctrl+P>	Plays the current  track.
<Ctrl+A>	Pauses the playing track.
<Ctrl+S>	Stops the playing track.
<Ctrl+B>	Plays the previous track.
<Ctrl+O>	Plays the next track.
<Ctrl+E>	Loads or unloads the CD.
<Ctrl+L>	Shows the Playlist dialog.
<Ctrl+F>	Sets preferences.
<Ctrl+M>	Shows mixer settings.
<Ctrl+D>	Switches the display mode.
<Ctrl+Shift+D>	Shows select display mode menu.
<Ctrl+Shift+R>	Removes current track from the playlist.
<Ctrl+Shift+V>	Shows select volume device menu.


If Creative CD starts and quits immediately without giving any error messages

This is probably due to the application resource dll file CDRES32.DLL being missing from the application directory.  Try to locate the file and move it to the same directory as the application.  If you cannot find the file in your system, you will need to reinstall the application.


If you have problems adjusting the volume

No effect when adjusting the loudness of the volume:

•	Check that the sound card supports the device.

•	Check that the audio cable is properly connected from the CD-ROM drive to the sound card.

•	Check that the speakers are properly connected to the sound card.

•	If your sound card has a volume knob at the back, try increasing the volume output of the speakers by turning the knob.

•	If you have more than one sound card, check that you are controlling the correct one.

•	Launch the Mixer and check that the Mixer Mute Control is not in the mute state.


If you encounter error messages

OLE 2.0 initialization failed. Make sure that the OLE libraries are the correct version.

Unable to display About box. Ensure that CTRES32.DLL is present in your system.

Unable to load mixer. Try running the Creative Mixer application from it's program group to verify if it is installed properly.

This track is not an audio track and cannot be played.

CD-ROM already in use. This application will not be able to access it.

CD not inserted into drive or CD Audio MCI Driver not installed.

CD-ROM drivers not installed.

Failed to launch Multimedia Properties. Check if application is installed.


OLE 2.0 initialization failed. Make sure that the OLE libraries are the correct version.

The player supports OLE 2.0 Automation and requires the OLE libraries to run.  Try running the application again.  If it fails again, the OLE libraries in your system are not the correct version or missing.  Try installing the application again.


Unable to display About box. Ensure that CTRES32.DLL is present in your system.

The file CTRES32.DLL is required to display the player's About box.  Check that the file is in your system.  If not, you may want to reinstall the program.  The player can still run without this file.


Unable to load mixer. Try running the Creative Mixer application from it's program group to verify if it is installed properly.

The mixer application has probably been deleted or moved to another directory. Locate the mixer application and run it to check that it is working.


This track is not an audio track and cannot be played.

Creative CD can only play CD audio tracks.  Remove this track from the playlist.


CD-ROM already in use. This application will not be able to access it.

There is probably another application using the CD-ROM device.  Quit the other application if you want the player to control the CD.


CD not inserted into drive or CD Audio MCI Driver not installed.

Creative CD cannot obtain the CD resources it requires.  This is due either to no CD being in the drive or the CD MCI driver not being installed.  Install the CD Audio MCI driver if your drive contains a CD.


CD-ROM drivers not installed.

You will need to install the CD ROM driver to use the player.


Failed to launch Multimedia Properties. Check if application is installed.

Make sure that CONTROL.EXE exists in the Windows directory and MMSYS.CPL exists in the Windows system directory.  If not, you may want to reinstall your Windows.  Creative CD can still run without these files.


Programming the Creative CD - Programming the Creative CD
Programming the Creative CD

You can create your own application to control the Creative CD through OLE Automation. Below documents the Creative CD application object that is exported by the application. The type library file CTAUTO.TLB is supplied with the application.

CreativeCD Object
The following table shows the properties that are exposed by the Creative CD application:

Properties

Property name	Return type	Access	Description
Application	Application object	Read-only	Returns the application object.
FullName	String	Read-only	Returns the file specification for the application, including path.
Name	String	Read-only	Returns the name of the application.
Parent	Application object	Read-only	Returns the application object.
Visible	Bool	Read-write	Sets or returns whether the application is visible to the user.
TrackCount	Short	Read-only	Returns the number of tracks in the collection.
TrackNumber	Short	Read-only	Returns the current track's track number
TrackName	String	Read-only	Returns the current track's track name.
Collection	String	Read-only	Returns the current collection name
Artiste	String	Read-only	Returns the current track's artiste name
Playing	Bool	Read-only	Returns whether the application is currently playing.
Stopped	Bool	Read-only	Returns whether the application is currently stopped.
Paused	Bool	Read-only	Returns whether the application is currently paused.
Playlist	Bool	Read-only	Returns whether the application's Playlist dialog is currently shown.
The following table shows the methods that are exposed by the Creative CD application:

Methods

Method name	Return type	Parameters	Description
Quit	None	None	Exits the application.
Play	None	None	Starts playing.
PlayTrack	None	Track number of the track to play	Plays the specified track.
Stop	None	None	Stops playing.
Pause	None	None	Pauses/unpauses playback
SkipForward	None	None	Moves to the next track.
SkipBackward	None	None	Moves to the previous track.
ShowPlaylist	None	None	Shows the Playlist Dialog.
AddTrack	Bool	Full path name of the track to add.	Adds a track to the collection. Returns success or failure.
RemoveCurrentTrack	Bool	None	Removes the current track from the collection. Returns success or failure.
Eject	void	None	Ejects the CD tray.


Glossary of Terms

Power Button

Menu Button

Minimize Button

Play Button

Stop Button

Pause Button

Skip Forward Button

Skip Backward Button

Fast Forward Button

Rewind Button

Playlist Button

Eject Button

Fast Track Selector

Touch Sensitive Display

Graphic Volume Slider

Graphic Slider

Shuffle Mode Selector

Introduction Mode Selector

Repeat Mode Selector

CD Selectors

Multidisc

Playback Status Indicator

Playlist Dialog CD Title Edit Box

Playlist Dialog Preview Buttons

Playlist Dialog Add Button

Playlist Dialog Add All Button

Playlist Dialog Remove Button

Playlist Dialog Remove All Button

Playlist Dialog Playlist List Box

Playlist Dialog Track-list List Box

Playlist Dialog Track Name Edit Box

Playlist Dialog Track Artiste Combo Box

Playlist Dialog Track Notes Edit box

Playlist Dialog Done Button

Playlist Dialog Cancel Button

Playlist Dialog Help Button

Preferences Dialog OK Button

Preferences Dialog Cancel Button

Preferences Dialog Help Button

Preferences Dialog Intro Length Setting

Preferences Dialog Save Setting On Exit Check Box

Preferences Dialog Check List Box


Power Button

Quits Creative CD.


Menu Button

Popups the player menu that allows you to access standard windows menu options as well as several other player options.


Minimize Button

Minimizes the player.


Play Button

Plays the currrent track.


Stop Button

Stops the track.


Pause Button

Pauses a playing track or plays the paused track.


Skip Forward Button

Moves to the next track in the playlist.  If you are currently at the last track on the playlist, it moves to the first track of the playlist.


Skip Backward Button

Moves to the previous track of the playlist.  If you are currently at the first track of the playlist, it moves to the last track of the playlist.


Fast Forward Button

Moves forward within the track.  When the end of the track is reached, it moves to the next track and continues forwarding.


Rewind Button

Moves backwards within the track.  When the beginning of the track is reached, it moves to the previous track and continues rewinding


Playlist Button

Activates the Playlist dialog box which allows you to compile a selection of the tracks to play.


Eject Button

Opens and closes the CD-ROM tray.


Fast Track Selector

Allows you to choose a track that you want played.  To play a track that is a 2-digit number, choose the first track number followed by the second track number within two seconds.


Touch Sensitive Display

This display consists of several "touch sensitive" controls as well as indicators that show the current playback status and track information.  Left-click on the display or press <Ctrl+D> to switch between the different display modes.  Right-click on the display or press <Ctrl+Shift+D> to display a menu that allows you to select another display mode.


Graphic Volume Slider

Shows and controls the volume level of the player.  Move the slider level up to increase and move it down to decrease the volume.  Right-mouse click on it displays a menu that allows you to select the sound card and device to control.


Graphic Slider

Indicates the proportion of the current track that is playing.  It can also be used to control the playing position of the track.


Shuffle Mode Selector

Randomly reorders the tracks in the playlist.


Introduction Mode Selector

Plays only the first few seconds of the tracks in the playlist.


Repeat Mode Selector

Use this selector to select one of these repeat mode:

•	No repeat.

•	Repeat whole playlist.  This mode allows you to repeat playing the entire playlist tracks when the last track has played.

•	Repeat only current track.  This mode allows you to repeatedly play the current track.


CD Selectors

The player 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.


Multidisc

The player supports multidisc playback if you have more than one CD-ROM drives in your system.  That is, when the last track of the current CD playlist is played, the player will try to play the next CD.


Playback Status Indicator

Indicates the state of the player.  For example Play, Stop, Pause, Skip Forward, Skip Backward etc.


Playlist Dialog CD Title Edit Box

Allows you enter a title of the CD.


Playlist Dialog Preview Buttons

Previews the selected tracks in the Playlist or File-list list box.


Playlist Dialog Add Button

Includes the selected tracks in the File-list list box to the Playlist list box.


Playlist Dialog Add All Button

Includes all tracks in the File-list list box to the Playlist list box.


Playlist Dialog Remove Button

Removes the selected tracks from the Playlist list box.


Playlist Dialog Remove All Button

Removes all the tracks in the Playlist list box.


Playlist Dialog Playlist List Box

Displays a list of tracks in the sequence in which Creative CD will play.


Playlist Dialog Track-list List Box

Displays all tracks on the CD.


Playlist Dialog Track Name Edit Box

Allows you to change a track's name.


Playlist Dialog Track Artiste Combo Box

Allows you to enter artiste names for tracks.


Playlist Dialog Track Notes Edit box

Allows you to enter notes for tracks.


Playlist Dialog Done Button

Confirms the compilation of tracks in the playlist and exits the dialog.


Playlist Dialog Cancel Button

Cancels changes made to the tracks in the Playlist list box.  The playlist reverts to its last saved copy.


Playlist Dialog Help Button

Displays the on-line help facility.


Preferences Dialog OK Button

Confirms the changes in the dialog and applies the new settings.


Preferences Dialog Cancel Button

Cancels changes made in the dialog.


Preferences Dialog Help Button

Displays the on-line help facility.


Preferences Dialog Intro Length Setting

Specifies the amount of time in seconds you want between tracks when the player is in the Intro mode.


Preferences Dialog Save Setting On Exit Check Box

Saves the changes made in this dialog when Creative CD exits.


Preferences Dialog Check List Box

Allows you to enable or disable various player options.