Audio Crackling In Game

[DerekRwl]

I noticed after like a minute I start to hear audio crackling in games (Steam) . I tried different headphones, updating drivers, updating realtek hd audio manager, updating Bios, Ccleaner, set power options to high performance and tried different sample rate in sound playback. Nothing . But I did noticed when recording (Xbox windows app DVR) the crackling stops? Not sure if that info helps. any ideas how to solve this or the very least whats making it do this?


CPU: i7-6800k
OS: Windows 10
GPU: AMD Radeon R9 390
Mobo: ASUS X99-E

 

[Ralston18]

Are you using the motherboard's built in audio ports or a separate PCI-x sound card?

Are you able to check the internal connections: i.e., open the case, check and reconnect all cables, reseat all cards, look for loose wires, etc.?

 

[DerekRwl]

Are you using the motherboard's built in audio ports or a separate PCI-x sound card?

Are you able to check the internal connections: i.e., open the case, check and reconnect all cables, reseat all cards, look for loose wires, etc.?

I am using the motherboard's built in audio ports and I'll get back to you after I check the connections.

 

[DerekRwl]

Alright I reconnect the cables, reseat cards and check for loose wires. And the problem still stands.

 

[Ralston18]

What are the hardware/software differences between recording and not recording?

When you are recording your Xbox gaming activities to the DVR the video and audio paths are different.

Try to narrow down the circumstances that result in the audio crackling. For example: just Steam, just certain games.

Try turning off or disabling background applications.

Use Task Manager to see what all is running and look for applications, services, and processes related to audio and sound.

See if you can cause some change with respect to when the crackling starts: could be heat related but it could also be some service or process starting up.

The goal is to find something that you can specifically identify as being related to the crackling.

 

[DerekRwl]

Would taking my PC in for diagnostic find the problem? Because I couldn't find anything that sticks out on task manager and I reset my PC and that did nothing. This PC was my first build so I don't know much from here now.

 

[Ralston18]

Yes - going for a diagnostic is an option. May flush out some hardware problem if the proper testing is done.

However, I suggest that you first try (or retry) narrowing down the circumstances with respect to the audio crackle.

E.g., which games within Steam. Look for some common factor among the games. Check the respective game forums and FAQs to see if anyone else is reporting similar problems.

Know as much as you can before having the diagnostics done. If the diagnostics do find something you need to know and understand if that finding (and the cost of the "required repairs") truly makes sense.

 

[DerekRwl]

So far I noticed it in 3 different games (Steam)

 

[Ralston18]

That would suggest something unique to Steam games....

Or those 3 games in particular. Can you play any other Steam games without crackling?

Do you do anything different while playing those 3 games: e.g., some custom keyboard configuration?

Do those particular games require some certain level of graphics performance? Check audio recommendations and requirements as well.

 

[DerekRwl]

The 3 games are Dying Light, Tomb Raider and H1Z1. I don't need to play them. I just sit at the start menu and listen to the music and after awhile it starts crackling. I even go into the audio settings to turn down the music and I can hear it from the sound effects as well. The music just makes it more noticeable.

Also sorry for the down vote. On mobile and didn't mean it

 

[Ralston18]

No problem. Happens...

Moderator might reverse it

Only a couple of immediate suggestions:

1) Going back a step: open Task Manager to see what all is running. Leave it open and listen as you normally do. When the audio crackling starts look for some app, process, or service that started or stopped. Try with and without recording as well.

2) Likewise run Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor. Look for some change there with the onset of the crackling. You may need to play music from other sources or unaffected games to spot some difference.

Wondering if those three games use some beat, frequency, or sound effect pattern that causes distortion/crackling. Sort of a resonance/"perfect storm" - recording the game is just enough change to disrupt the pattern.

I have a couple of CDs that do such things - usually resonance forcing me to alter the bass when the CD played in my vehicle.


Otherwise, I am a bit out of ideas right now. Hopefully someone else will note something I have missed.

 

[DerekRwl]

Sorry for the late reply, during the time I ended up taking my PC up for Diagnostics and repair for other problems and was able to get a new motherboard but sadly the audio problem still stands and so I went ahead and monitor the task manager as I ran one of my games. And I noticed as i went into the game options to set the video from full screen to windowed, the audio crackling was louder and more frequent. After that I check the task manager and from my prospective I couldn't see anything that sticks out so i took a screen shot of what was running and share it here to see if others could point out the possibilities

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5hWeqS422vGNldGMm5sVXRCWGM

and as for the Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor. I'm Sorry but I don't know what I'm looking at

Also I recorded some audio just to give you an idea of the issue I'm dealing with (Tomb Raider main menu)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5hWeqS422vGNjVVVnlhRWIxUWM/view?usp=sharing

 

[sizzling]

Is your new motherboard the same model as your old one? Audio crackling is usually caused by interference. It could be certain levels of power usage are more prone to interference from the PSU or regulators on the motherboard. If a particular motherboard has poor interference shielding on the audio section there is little you can do apart from trying an external sound card or DAC. The only other thing is trying a new power supply just encase your current one has a particularly dirty supply but you would want to try a PSU of very high quality.

 

[DerekRwl]

Is your new motherboard the same model as your old one? Audio crackling is usually caused by interference. It could be certain levels of power usage are more prone to interference from the PSU or regulators on the motherboard. If a particular motherboard has poor interference shielding on the audio section there is little you can do apart from trying an external sound card or DAC. The only other thing is trying a new power supply just encase your current one has a particularly dirty supply but you would want to try a PSU of very high quality.

It is the same model and I have Corsair CX650M PSU
Best to get the next one up?

 

[sizzling]

If you have a spare PSU or can borrow one it is worth trying but I wouldn't buy one as it may not help, the interference might be PSU but could easily be something else. You would stand a much better chance of fixing the problem with an external sound card or DAC. The fact its the same motherboard means a poor design in audio shielding has not been eliminated.

 

[DerekRwl]

Alright let's say It is the PSU and I decide to get a sound card to fix it. Is there a possibility of the PSU damaging my motherboard from its doings? Because it's most likely that i'm just gonna do the sound card since there's no way for me to get a hold of another PSU.

 

[sizzling]

I highly doubt this type of interference is a sign of a fault that will cause damage. Can't say for certain but I think its unlikely.

 

[DerekRwl]

I also don't know sound cards as much, like do I have to use the audio jacks on it for improvement?

 

[sizzling]

Yes you use the audio jacks from the new sound card. You really want to use an external USB soundcard or DAC. The objective is to get the sound processing away from sources of interference such as the PSU or motherboard.

 

[DerekRwl]

So I tried a soundcard and did not work so I went for the USB soundcard and that did fix it.so that means there is interference right?

 

[sizzling]

I'd expect so. PC's produce a lot of electrical noise which can cause interference in sound setups, its one of the reasons people recommend external soundcards or DAC's. It's also why more expensive internal soundcards have so much shielding.

 

[DerekRwl]

Alright I was able to get a hold of a different motherboard (X99 Extreme4 ASRock) And the problem is still there... 🙁
So I'm gonna try and get a different PSU and see if that makes any difference.