Hi

One Yamaha based card I have has a digital input, that's the Hoontech Digital-XG.

I don't recall testing it in Linux and can't explain how well it works there. You may
find this particular card hard to find.

One alternative option which I did test once but long ago is the well supported
ICE1712 (envy24) chip in Linux. This doesn't do XG, but the Terratec DMX 6fire
has a 5.25" I/O panel which may hold any WAVEBLASTER compatible board, such
as the DB50-XG.

Bye.

EDIT: PS. The latter option is no good for DOS.

I have tried YMF754 and YMF724. Both have SPDIF but i am not sure are they DOS compatible.
Other option is an sound card with XG daughterboard. One such card with SPDIF is Turtle Beach Pinnacle, but its DOS compatibility is only limited to Internal MIDI, i think, as General MIDI device.

SW1000XG has no DOS drivers.

[EDIT]

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/lsi/download/
Seems that YMF754 abd YMF724 do have DOS drivers.

Hi

Stojke wrote:

I have tried YMF754 and YMF724. Both have SPDIF but i am not sure are they DOS compatible.
Other option is an sound card with XG daughterboard. One such card with SPDIF is Turtle Beach Pinnacle, but its DOS compatibility is only limited to Internal MIDI, i think, as General MIDI device.

This reminds me that there is also the TERRATEC SIXPACK which has
digital I/O and may take a DB50-XG. It has the CRYSTAL chipset, much
like the TB SANTA CRUZ. I have lots of crappy cards in a box I will
take a look at them later and see what else looks useful

Bye-bye

Turtle Beach Montego 2 'Home Studio' with DB50XG attached would fit the description too. Aureal Vortex-2 based. Unfortunately the 'Home Studio' I/O bracket is somewhat rare, and its S/PDIF functionality is windows only.

and the simple Terratec DMX has a waveblaster header and a digital I/O bracket... ESS Canyon3D based

Hi

I checked out the junk, and nothing other than what has been
said already was found.

The problem with most of these solutions is the digital input and
the XG component is probably easier in the long run using an
external MU10 or other midi module.

Only the DMX 6fire so far, or any other ICE1712 device can offer
digital sync, everything else will run at 48KHz, I am not sure about
those 1980s laser disks but doubt if they source 48KHz.

So, you will probably need two cards, or even two computers if
you really need DOS compatibility.

As for Linux, then it's a good idea to look at an ICE1712 card with
either midi I/O or the 6fire, there is also the E-MU 0404 PCI which
has digital I/O, however, I own a first edition of this card which
isn't supported in Linux, only the second edition is AFAIK.

There are of course lots of other solutions for good quality audio
recording which include firewire and USB2 devices, I have no idea
what's recommended there 😀

Bye-bye

Ended up getting a soundblaster live. Though it forces playback to 48khz regardless of original samplerate, it allows spdif capture at 32, 44.1, and 48 kHz sample rate (possibly others); still have to prove this to myself. Dos compatibility is great and its hardware wavetable space is only limited by system ram. One of the best supported cards under Linux too.

Appreciate the help!