Kahenraz wrote on 2022-01-31, 03:35:

I want to do some MIDI recordings on the EMU8000, but I don't own an AWE 32. I do however own an AWE 64. All other things being equal (and ignoring the DSP version/hanging note bug), are there any known auditable variations of the EMU8000 between the AWE 32 and the AWE 64?

AWE32 and AWE64 both use EMU8000 and sound exactly the same. The hanging note bug only occurs when external MIDI devices (e.g. a Roland SC-55) are connected to those cards. It does not occur when the card's internal AWE synth is used.

From what I understand, the Live! also uses the same EMU8000 but it's integrated into the single chip which appears on this board.

No. The SBLive uses the EMU10K1 chip.

I'm also curious, if memory capacity is to be ignored, whether there is any variation in capability between these cards when it comes to using sound fonts.

Technically, the AWE64 has greater polyphony than the AWE32. However, this is accomplished through software, specifically Creative's WaveGuide.

If the EMU10K1 of the Live! has a different sounding synthesizer, will there be any difference between it and a EMU8000 if the same .sf2 sound font is used?

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-01-31, 05:00:

If the EMU10K1 of the Live! has a different sounding synthesizer, will there be any difference between it and a EMU8000 if the same .sf2 sound font is used?

It depends. If the soundfont was designed to use the built-in AWE32 ROM samples for certain instruments, then yes, it will sound different on a SBLive. Otherwise, no.

Such soundfonts are uncommon though. I've only seen them used in a few games like Final Fantasy VII. After testing that game on both a SBLive and an AWE64 Gold, I did notice some differences with the music.