So basically just to clarify a few things, the onboard laptop 'conexant audio' drivers are not compatible with 98. I'm using the first edition of 98 btw. I actually prefer it to the second edition. I'm using the modified usb drivers for FE that gives me usb 2.0 support and plug and play capability. The system is very fast actually. I love it way more than xp since I was using 98 back in the good old days (2000-June 2003). I should probably ad I have a bit of a home studio setup as well which I rarely use these days. Honestly, if i needed 'inputs of any kind' for recording purposes I would simply use my studio.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2021

Hello @Nostalgia_Rocks, thanks for the information.
How do you want to listen to your music (monitors or headphones)?
So we would have cleared up the retro nonsense too.
Do you still need a USB audio interface or has that been resolved?

- Maybe helpful - I can't guarantee it will work -

Windows 98 supports the generic USB audio class, meaning that any USB audio device that complies with this (basically everything) will work, even a cheap $2 USB adapter.

In my experiance any generic USB audio adapter works fine for Win98SE, right now I have a $25 Sound Blaster Play!3 hooked up to my 14-year-newer-computer-than-it’s-os Win98SE machine, though I do reccomend installing the 98SE autopatcher first to avoid BSODs from the USB driver on some USB audio devices. But, Win98SE has native drivers for generic USB audio devices.

www.reddit.com/r/windows98/comments/igtkmp/usb_soundcards_for_windows_98/

Creative Labs 70SB173000000 Sound Blaster Play 3 USB E - 25 EUR
USB-DAC-Verstärker und externe Soundkarte
https://de.creative.com/p/sound-cards/sound-blaster-play-3
https://www.ebay.de/p/15029856188

Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3: USB sound card with headphone amplifier
Creative Technology Ltd. expands the portfolio with the Sound Blaster Play! 3. At the Play! 3 is a USB sound card with DAC and headphone amplifier for PC and Apple Mac.
Ronald Matta, June 29, 2017
Creative today has the brand new USB sound card with digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier for PC and Mac called Sound Blaster Play! 3 announced. The compact plug & play sound solution offers 24-bit / 96-kHz audio and is now available at a price of just under 25 euros.
Users can use the Sound Blaster Play! 3 Connect the sound card to a Windows PC or Apple Mac to benefit from technologies such as SBX Pro Studio or CrystalVoice with any gaming headset, studio headphones or stereo speakers. In combination with the Sound Blaster Play! 3 software, which is available free of charge for Windows and MacOS X, the portable external USB sound card offers numerous configuration options and additional audio effects.
In addition, thanks to the combinable and divisible stereo / microphone connections, the Sound Blaster Play! 3 no separate Y adapter cable required. Headsets with one or separate plugs for loudspeaker and microphone can be connected to the Play! 3 is very easy to connect. In addition to an integrated USB DAC with 24-bit / 96 kHz, the USB sound card offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 93 dB.
https://www.notebookcheck.com/Creat...karte-mit-Kopfhoererverstaerker.230668.0.html

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2021

Not sure if you missed my previous post or not, but I said I already bought the cooler looking white Ugreen 'usb sound adapter'. I pray that it works, that's literally all I can do. If it won't work though I will once again be in the market to somehow get sound out of my laptop. Autopatcher? Link? Also asio4all 2.14 works flawlessly so far, I was actually able to do a test render without a sound card. I played it back on my other windows 11 laptop and sounded great actually. Thats without me even hearing what i was making lolz,, But anyway, without a question I will be using my favorite SHP-9500S headphones (6hz-35000hz) with my Mogami 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable. I don't need or want an amp. I really dislike how loud the audio can get on amps. I make better mixes without a headphone amp, time and time again. I have pro monitors to A7's from 2008. But honestly I rarely use them these days. So i suppose my issue is at least seemingly 'resolved'.

 

Then I wish you the best of luck with the Ugreen USB adapter. Please write here whether it works.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2021

I'll definitely let you guys know if/how well it works. We all get pissed off from time to time btw, that's what makes us human. Not sure why I even shared that.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2021

Behringer had some VERY cheap USB audio I/O interfaces years ago, which have good audio specs and reviews.
The red one is the better I think (?)

 

FWIW, I actually bought a Ugreen adapter at one point for other purposes. I like my audio interface for producing music, and I like a separate sound source for all other audio. At one point, for shits and giggles, I tried the Ugreen adapter in Reaper. It worked fine. But at that time, that was on an i7-6700k w 16GB ram. Not exactly a work horse, but definitely a lot better than the laptop you're using, so YMMV. You're definitely not breaking the bank with that adapter though, haha Worth a shot. Not exactly a big loss of $ if it doesn't work out.

You may need to use only some very simple/small amount of FX/VSTis, etc. to keep the load down. That audio adapter might be the best piece of hardware in that latop though. LOL It's probably not the main bottleneck, at any rate.

Anyways, hope it works out!

Edit: for full retro fun and cool points, you should use a Tracker or Chiptune tool of some sort instead of Studio One! lol

 

Yup. As a simple test I stacked 10 minimoogs v1.5 playing notes in ASiO4ALL 2.14 (2017 vers.) and i wasn't much over 34% cpu. And win98 only uses 1 core (98 wasn't designed for multicore). 98FE utilizes 1020mb of my ram which is good for 98. It also recognizes the 256mb nvidia card with the modded drivers. The laptop screen is 16:10 1440x900 but i'm using 800x600 for better viewing of old programs. Like I said, its very fast and very responsive.I'm now thinking about an Audioquest Dragonfly on 98FE?

scratch that lol. Audioquest hypes the sound therefore not neutral.

 

Last edited: Oct 22, 2021