Quick question regarding SB Pro 2 cards. I noticed on the list of best to worst that N/A is listed for the MPU-401 hanging note bug and slowdown. Does this mean those cards, and earlier, don't support MPU-401 via the gameport?

SBpro and earlier only have SB-MIDI support, which games generally do not support. MPU-401 support came with SB16 and is subject to a variety of bugs. Most can be fixed by replacing the "DSP" chip with a new one that has one of the recently made fixed firmwares.

Tiido wrote on 2026-01-21, 15:27:

SBpro and earlier only have SB-MIDI support, which games generally do not support. MPU-401 support came with SB16 and is subject to a variety of bugs. Most can be fixed by replacing the "DSP" chip with a new one that has one of the recently made fixed firmwares.

Ahh, I see. Thanks for clarifying. Yeah, unfortunately, I wouldn't know where to begin with replacing chips. I guess I would have to aim for one with the least problems, if any.

I suppose, actually, if I were to get another card with true SB/DOS support, I should consider getting an AWE32/64.

I need a little refresher on something. I've actually forgotten a little detail concerning digital audio/redbook audio and was going through it in my head on the way to work. ^^ Obviously, I have the CD audio cable plugged from the sound card (Yamaha) to the CD-ROM drive, I'm able to play game CDs with redbook audio (both in Windows and DOS), however I'm a bit confused as to how it works with a virtual CD drive and CD image. It makes sense for a physical CD to work due to the audio cable, but how exactly does it work with a virtual one? Whether with a digital audio cable, WDM drivers, or S/PDIF?

I'm pretty sure I did a test with Quake 2, where I just had my Yamaha connected and didn't daisy-chain to the SB, or select it as the primary audio device, and I still received music whilst playing. I'll need to do another test to make sure I'm not dreaming.

On another topic...

Someone informed me of a PCI sound card alternative. It supposedly has the best DOS compatibility and only works with motherboards like mine via an SB-Link header. With the cable, selecting SB, SB Pro or SB16 audio in DOS games just works. Cards such as the YMF724, YMF744 or YMF754. Though I need a CD drive that allows for digital audio and for the Enable Digital CD Audio checkbox to not be greyed out. With my current one though, it is. I was informed the 2-pin cable to the CD drive is essentially the same as coaxial S/PDIF digital, which can be converted to optical TOSLINK using just an LED across the wires, allowing me to use better DACs in the sound card or receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hg_wUcdC4s

Curious what other's thoughts are on this? Or if it's even worth it? Thanks.

EDIT: Yeah, Quake 2’s music plays with the CD image and only the Yamaha connected up. Despite the SB being the one that’s hooked to the CD drive via S/PDIF cable. So I’m curious how a virtual drive and image, along with a sound card that isn’t hooked to the CD drive, can output the redbook audio?

Optical drive emulation software plays audio CDs like a wav file, the same as if you were playing an MP3 file in a media player. It would work the same even if your physical CD drive was completely removed from the computer. It also means that the "CD Audio" volume slider doesn't work with virtual CD drives, it's controlled with the wave volume slider.

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-02-07, 22:45:

Optical drive emulation software plays audio CDs like a wav file, the same as if you were playing an MP3 file in a media player. It would work the same even if your physical CD drive was completely removed from the computer. It also means that the "CD Audio" volume slider doesn't work with virtual CD drives, it's controlled with the wave volume slider.

Ahhh, I see. Thanks. 😀