I don't think so, at least not like how you can on the AWE64. I think this functionality was added back with the Audigy cards/drivers.

revolstar wrote on 2026-10-09, 15:17:

Quick question. Is there a way to add SB Live's DSP effects EXCLUSIVELY to MIDI playback, so that, y'know, wave playback remains dry, system sounds remain unaffected under Windows 9x?

The SB128 lets you add chorus and reverb to MIDI playback directly in the Windows sound mixer; I can't find any such option for the SB Live, it only applies the effects globally for all sound output.

I think that should be possible with the kx drivers. They have a graphical tool that allows you to configure the DSP almost however you like. I ran them ages ago for the 10 band hardware EQ and to use the Live's cleaner rear output as front output.
https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-binaries

They can work with 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. EMU10K1 (Live) and EMU10K2 (Audigy 1&2).

I've attached the Windows Help doc from the drivers. It explains everything.

Aye, thanks. I don't think the kX driver will let me use EAX though.

The SB128 lets you do it, the AWE 64 lets you do it, what's with SB Live then? What a huge step back.

Seriously, how has this MIDI playback issue not been solved yet? There's so many smart people in the retro community, can't anyone develop a fix for this?? Or at least vibe code a custom driver or something?? 😉

revolstar wrote on 2026-10-10, 08:24:

Or at least vibe code a custom driver or something?? 😉

The tools are all there at your disposal, I say go for it

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-10-10, 09:03:

revolstar wrote on 2026-10-10, 08:24:

Or at least vibe code a custom driver or something?? 😉

The tools are all there at your disposal, I say go for it

Heck, I'd be lyin' if I told ya I haven't thought about it. It may be a bit above my pay grade though...

OK, quick update: I asked Claude to help me deconstruct and patch the VxD driver for SB Live. He basically told me to go f**k myself 🤣

He did suggest a workaround that seems to be working though: edit your preferred .sf2 file and add reverb en masse to all the patches/instruments. That'll have to do for now I guess.

Do I understand the question right? There shouldn't be any problems to set effects only to midi. There should be sliders for every source.

You could take a look at the older GeneralUser GS soundfont (1.44) meant for Live and Audigy. Not only it includes premade presets to import but it also contains step by step instructions how to do it manually.

I don't remember if there is some difference in old live drivers.

aitotat wrote on Yesterday, 08:32:

Do I understand the question right? There shouldn't be any problems to set effects only to midi. There should be sliders for every source.

I know, right? Except that neither my SB Live running under Windows 95 nor my SB Audigy running under Windows 98SE have these sliders for MIDI playback available in the EAX control panel.

revolstar wrote on Yesterday, 09:56:

aitotat wrote on Yesterday, 08:32:

Do I understand the question right? There shouldn't be any problems to set effects only to midi. There should be sliders for every source.

I know, right? Except that neither my SB Live running under Windows 95 nor my SB Audigy running under Windows 98SE have these sliders for MIDI playback available in the EAX control panel.

Just for posterity I checked my Live value card in 98SE and there is no indepedent MIDI effect on mine either. You can change the levels on the AC97 input (follows whats set as the record source in the audio mixer), SPDIF-IN and Wave/Directsound. MIDI comes through wave/directsound so it's applied equally to MIDI and all other sound. You can also bind midi controls to effects, but they apply globally not just to MIDI playback.

In my specific setup I have MIDI coming through Auxiliary from a WP32 McCake so I can technically do it by applying effects only to the AC97 input. But not for the creative soundfont synthesizer.

OK I did figure it out, although it's not intuitive. MIDI is actually a hidden source in the EAX control panel that's always active. If you set chorus and reverb to 0% for every option in the sources tab dropdown menu, then the effects only get applied to MIDI output from the card.