Running Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 on Windows XP \ VOGONS

Running Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 on Windows XP

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First post, by noisymemories

Posted on 2020-12-19, 16:24

noisymemories Offline

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Hi everyone,
I've been using an old 2010 iMac running windows xp for some retrogaming lately, mostly GOG games and a few random XP-era games.

I was interested into getting the old EAX extensions (Reverb and whatnot) working so I bought the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 software package - with little luck, given that upon installing it asks for windows 7 for minimum requirements, kinda nonsensical considering several native EAX games had trouble running on Win 7 without hacks.

Has anyone been able to run X-Fi MB3 on Windows XP? Otherwise what can you suggest as an alternative? I can't squeeze a pcie soundcard inside an imac obviously, and I can't seem to find any Soundblaster Usb with decent EAX (> 4.0) support .

Reply 1 of 6, by t9999clint

Posted on 2020-12-20, 23:19

t9999clint Offline

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You're probably better off using Windows 7 and DSOAL
This is the most compatible EAX emulation solution I've messed with so far.
https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/65094

There is a Windows XP version of DSOAL but it's not very good yet.
https://github.com/pachuco/dsoal-XP

My Youtube Channel: https://www.kor.ninja/
My Soundfont Project: K.O.R. Soundfont Project V.5.0
My Soundcloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/clint-theriault

Reply 2 of 6, by noisymemories

Posted on 2020-12-22, 16:54

noisymemories Offline

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Windows 7? Not much of a retro machine , innit? 😀️ Still, Thanks though - I'll give a look at DSOAL for XP.
I'm rather surprised at the absence of a proper Audigy or earlier USB Soundcard actually, the USB 2.0 bandwidth would be more than enough to drive it, I mean I clearly remember using in the past even professional ASIO cards over the USB bus without hassle.

Reply 3 of 6, by mothergoose729

Posted on 2020-12-22, 17:26

mothergoose729 Offline

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t9999clint wrote on 2020-12-20, 23:19:
You're probably better off using Windows 7 and DSOAL This is the most compatible EAX emulation solution I've messed with so far. […]
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You're probably better off using Windows 7 and DSOAL
This is the most compatible EAX emulation solution I've messed with so far.
https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/65094

There is a Windows XP version of DSOAL but it's not very good yet.
https://github.com/pachuco/dsoal-XP

Does the mod work in other games? I haven't been able to get EAX emulation working KOTOR - worth a try for sure.

Reply 4 of 6, by t9999clint

Posted on 2020-12-22, 23:26

t9999clint Offline

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The windows 7 version of DSOAL apparently works with KOTOR, but I haven't tried it yet so I don't know yet.
Here's a list of Directsound games and different methods to get the EAX/A3D support working on them... keep in mind that the people who made this list only tested with Win7
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SyOw7D0H2 … kI-gVTpyhc/edit

I'm testing out the XP version and have been posting the results of that in a different thread. Working EAX/A3D Emulation on Windows XP
I'm also in contact with the DSOAL devs and helping them troubleshoot issues. (more help would be nice of course)

My Youtube Channel: https://www.kor.ninja/
My Soundfont Project: K.O.R. Soundfont Project V.5.0
My Soundcloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/clint-theriault

Reply 5 of 6, by noisymemories

Posted on 2020-12-26, 21:14

noisymemories Offline

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I'll give a look at DSOAL for Windows XP - I'm a bit confused about all the different configs available on that Google Doc, once I wrap my head around that I'll post some results.

Reply 6 of 6, by t9999clint

Posted on 2020-12-27, 20:08

t9999clint Offline

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Yeah it's a confusing mess right now. I'll post a tutorial on how to get it working once I get a good process going.
Also there's been some big updates today so hopefully the XP version is working now.

My Youtube Channel: https://www.kor.ninja/
My Soundfont Project: K.O.R. Soundfont Project V.5.0
My Soundcloud Page: https://soundcloud.com/clint-theriault

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