Perhaps you need to initialize the Audigy's mixer in DOS.
I do not even know whether one exists.

I would set up SB16 in Windows and route Audigy via SB16 (not the other way around). But given that your SB16 is non-PnP, it might be a noisy one? Otherwise, there shouldn't be any big issues with that setup. Windows allows you to pick the main playback device, and you still won't see Audigy in DOS.

Regarding CD — I don't think you can route CD audio from an inactive card to an active one.

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-18, 22:25:

Anyone else running a similar config?

I'm using an SB Live + ESS 1868 in a similar way. CD audio works under both DOS and Windows through SB Live's S/PDIF in. Under DOS only ESS 1868 is fully initialized. On the SB Live only the mixer part is activated by this tool:
Multichannel DOS mixer for DOS sound builds v0.49 for Live, v1.01 for Audigy

Adding the SB16 to windows will not mess with hardware resources when rebooting to DOS?

Falcosoft wrote on 2020-05-18, 23:24:

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-18, 22:25:

Anyone else running a similar config?

I'm using an SB Live + ESS 1868 in a similar way. CD audio works under both DOS and Windows through SB Live's S/PDIF in. Under DOS only ESS 1868 is fully initialized. On the SB Live only the mixer part is activated by this tool:
Multichannel DOS mixer for DOS sound builds v0.49 for Live, v1.01 for Audigy

So you are taking CD audio from the ROM to both cards, one analog, one digital? Drive I am using doesn't have the digital output and I don't have one of those cables. But might be worth tracking down. Wonder how many windows games from the 9x era used CD audio? Your speakers I take it are connected to the Live, yes?

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-18, 23:29:

So you are taking CD audio from the ROM to both cards, one analog, one digital? Drive I am using doesn't have the digital output and I don't have one of those cables. But might be worth tracking down. Wonder how many windows games from the 9x era used CD audio? Your speakers I take it are connected to the Live, yes?

1. No, I have attached the audio out of CD/DVD only to SB Live. It works under both Windows and DOS. I'm using digital CD audio since it is less noisy but it would work the same way with analog CD audio. Outputting CD audio does not require fully initialized state from Creative PCI sound cards, you only have to enable the mixer part with the above linked tool.
2. Yes, only the SB Live is connected to speakers and the ESS 1868 Line-Out is connected to SB Live's Line-In.
3. Under Win9x both ESS 1868 and SB Live is installed but SB Live's SB16 Emulation is disabled in Device Manager. This way under Win98 the ESS 1868 gives full Sound Blaster support the same way as in DOS. I have a DreamBlaster X2 attached to ESS 1868's Waveblaster header so I do not need even the GM emulation of SB Live for DOS programs. So for DOS programs even in Win98 the ESS 1868 gives digital samples + hardware FM synyh + GM. And for Windows games the SB Live works as a default audio output providing EAX + Hardware based SF2 synth for MIDI. But of course I can also select the ESS MPU-401 MIDI Out port if I want to use the DreamBlaster X2 in Windows MIDI programs.

ahh, interesting, wasn't aware of that. I will give the mixer a try, thanks!

Playing with that mixer for the Audigy and I haven't been able to run any switches after ek2m -b. That runs without error, but anything else just states hardware is not initialized...

Edit, think I figured it out. Once I specified -b and other switches in the same command string, that error went away.

figured out how to dump a config file and load it. Guessing I need to put this in my autoexec.bat

But despite that, I cant seam to get it working.

1; ekm config, ver. 107
2; ------------------------------------------------------------
3 -boot -d 
4
5; ac97
6; ------------------------------------------------------------
7 -as line
8 -ai line 100
9     aux   0
10     cd    100
11     tad   0
12     mic   0
13     beep  0
14     
15; mix matrix
16;     input   afront dfront arear drear acenter dcenter spdif2 
17; ------------------------------------------------------------
18 -io   ac97      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
19 -io spdif0      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
20 -io spdif1      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
21 -io spdif2      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
22 -io   i2s0      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
23 -io   i2s1      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
24 -io   i2s2      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
25 -io   wave      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
26 -io  synth      0      0     100    100     0      0      0
27
28; output levels
29;     afront dfront arear drear acenter dcenter spdif2 
30; ------------------------------------------------------------
31 -o    100    100    100    100    100    100    100

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-19, 03:08:

Playing with that mixer for the Audigy and I haven't been able to run any switches after ek2m -b. That runs without error, but […]
Show full quote

Playing with that mixer for the Audigy and I haven't been able to run any switches after ek2m -b. That runs without error, but anything else just states hardware is not initialized...

Edit, think I figured it out. Once I specified -b and other switches in the same command string, that error went away.

figured out how to dump a config file and load it. Guessing I need to put this in my autoexec.bat

But despite that, I cant seam to get it working.

Since I do not have an Audigy to test with I cannot help you directly but I think with this setting you only get output in your Rear speakers. So instead of Front Out connect your speaker s to Rear Out and make sure you have connected your ISA soundcard's output to Line-in. Then play some test tunes under DOS on your ISA soundcard.

If you still have problems ask Parus in the other thread.

Not the most elegant solution but I run audio extension cables from the sound card to the front of the PC.
Fair bit cheaper then a mixer not to mention I've got 12 PC's most with 2 sound cards sharing same set of speakers.

chinny22 wrote on 2020-05-19, 09:20:

Not the most elegant solution but I run audio extension cables from the sound card to the front of the PC.
Fair bit cheaper then a mixer not to mention I've got 12 PC's most with 2 sound cards sharing same set of speakers.

Thanks will do, still exploring around with it trying to figure out how those inputs and outputs match up to the card.

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-19, 13:37:

chinny22 wrote on 2020-05-19, 09:20:

Not the most elegant solution but I run audio extension cables from the sound card to the front of the PC.
Fair bit cheaper then a mixer not to mention I've got 12 PC's most with 2 sound cards sharing same set of speakers.

Thanks will do, still exploring around with it trying to figure out how those inputs and outputs match up to the card.

Not sure I follow, what do you have at the front of the pc? You just manually moving the output for each PC to the speakers?

So will the win98 repesct the jumper settings on non pnp card?

MKT_Gundam wrote on 2020-05-19, 15:11:

So will the win98 repesct the jumper settings on non pnp card?

didn't look like it when I pulled my in. I have my card set to IRQ 7, but Windows gave it IRQ 5. I also discovered media player played through the SB16 regardless of Windows being set to only play from the preferred device which was set to the Audigy. So I removed the SB16 from Windows again and now playing with setting up the mixer in DOS for the Audigy.

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-19, 13:39:

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-19, 13:37:

chinny22 wrote on 2020-05-19, 09:20:

Not the most elegant solution but I run audio extension cables from the sound card to the front of the PC.
Fair bit cheaper then a mixer not to mention I've got 12 PC's most with 2 sound cards sharing same set of speakers.

Thanks will do, still exploring around with it trying to figure out how those inputs and outputs match up to the card.

Not sure I follow, what do you have at the front of the pc? You just manually moving the output for each PC to the speakers?

Sorry didn't see this before
I just run a cable like this from each PC's sound card to somewhere convenient (in my case below the screen)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-F … o/dp/B01CNAUYBY
An manually plug the speakers/headphones into whichever PC I'm using that day.

No worries!

I think I came up with a solution... Just waiting on parts to arrive...
A mixer board, will solder on a 12v molex connector and put it behind one of the 5.25" bay covers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stereo-Audio-Signal- … 872.m2749.l2649

Panel mount 3.5mm cables to go from the mixer board to a expansion slot bracket:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5ft-3-5mm-Mini-Ste … 872.m2749.l2649

Finally some patch cables to connect to the sound cards:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10cm-Short-Right-Ang … 872.m2749.l2649

SuperSirLink wrote on 2020-05-29, 13:14:

No worries! […]
Show full quote

No worries!

I think I came up with a solution... Just waiting on parts to arrive...
A mixer board, will solder on a 12v molex connector and put it behind one of the 5.25" bay covers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stereo-Audio-Signal- … 872.m2749.l2649

Panel mount 3.5mm cables to go from the mixer board to a expansion slot bracket:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5ft-3-5mm-Mini-Ste … 872.m2749.l2649

Finally some patch cables to connect to the sound cards:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10cm-Short-Right-Ang … 872.m2749.l2649

Looks good to me! its basically the same as my setup just much more tidy.
In fact I may even pinch your idea if I ever get a more permanent setup!

I will be sure to take some pics once the parts get here and report how well it works...

Got the mixer board, changed the power connector to a molex, and just attached it to the face of one of the 5.25" blanking panels... Some short patch cables to connect each sound card to the I/O panel mounts, and you have a nice clean self-contained setup... Tested it out and it works great! I was even able to disable the internal amplifier of the SB16 and take advantage of the mixer's amp...