Six Slick Tricks for the Creative Xmod Audio Enhancer
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Trick 6: Rip Enhanced Audio from Your MP3 Player

Unfortunately, the Xmod doesn't apply its enhancements to your computer's digital audio stream when you use the Xmod's line-in/microphone input. The enhancements show up only at the speaker or headphone audio jacks. This trick uses the Xmod's audio output jack rather than USB. Note that some X-Fi Sound Blaster cards can resample their output internally, which may allow you more flexibility for tricks like this.

If you want to capture audio using the virtual 3D surround sound effects and intend to play back your audio via headphones, you have to be trickier. Disconnect the Xmod from your computer and hook its headphone output into your computer's line input jack. (And no, you can't do this trick on a machine without an input.) Then power the Xmod using an external USB AC adapter (Figure 6) and connect your MP3 player (iPod, Zune, etc.) to the Xmod's input jack.

Set up your recording software to capture audio from the computer's line input, adjust the playback and capture levels as needed, and then capture the audio from the MP3 player as it plays back through the Xmod.

Yes, it's more than a little Rube Goldbergesque in how the job is accomplished, but it allows you to capture your sound complete with headphone-specific virtual surround sound and it sounds terrific when played back through headphones. Be aware that you may pick up noise due to the extra Digital-to-Analog-to-Digital conversion steps.

Tip: If you want to listen to the enhanced audio directly from the MP3 player, skip the computer and stick your earphones directly into the headphone jack on the Xmod.

Figure 6: Use the Xmod to "inflate" your audio and record tracks with built-in virtual surround sound.

X-Finally

The Creative Xmod transforms the listening experience, particularly when watching DVDs with exciting 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound on your computer. Between the virtual 3D, which you can enjoy either through headphones or speakers, and the quality-enhancing Crystalizer, the Xmod offers a lot of audio bang for relatively few bucks. If you own an Xmod or a similar audio enhancement device, I hope this article will encourage you to play with it in new and creative ways.

Thanks to Jean-Michel Trivi of Creative and Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba for their technical insights.

Erica Sadun has written, co-written, and contributed to almost two dozen books about technology, particularly in the areas of programming, digital video, and digital photography.

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