Razer Tiamat 7.1 Not Playing Steam Chat Audio When in Stereo Mode

[cblackwell55]

My Razer Tiamat 7.1 headset has a button the the controller that switches to stereo mode. I have it set up in the playback settings on 7.1 surround sound. The stereo mode works with all audio EXCEPT for the Steam chat system (works in steam games). On my playback panel it even shows that it's picking up the chat audio (the green bars). Just no sound coming from the mic. I checked the volume on the Tiamat controller as well. Help appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Just no sound coming from the mic.

Since when does sound come from a microphone? Heh. Just wondering.

I'd recommend starting by removing and reinstalling the headset drivers if you haven't already done so.

 

[Rob Nijlaan]

Ok, i know, post is old. But i see a moderator giving wrong tips and i have the right awnser.
The OP probably found out himself since he never posted back, but the issue is very simple.

The stereo button on the panel of the razer tiamat 7.1 does not downmix the 8 surround channels.
Downmixing is normally done by combining the following channels:

R+Rs+Rb+C+S=StereoRight
and
L+Ls+Lb+C+S=StereoLeft

But since the button only disables all channels except R and L you are missing the sound comming from the other 6 drivers.
Steam probably uses Centre to output chat. And therefore will not be heared when using the stereo button.
The stereo button on the panel is therefore a useless piece of trash.
There is no use for it ever. If they made it so it was a switch for a function in the audio panel.. but no...

But seriously cblackwell55...
Didnt you really noticed bad sound on stereo???
Lack of low tones? Or did you never used flexbass???
If so, you also had very poor surround sound.

Just to be sure, here are my setups;

Windows settings

■ First right click sound icon in systray to open Sound window.
■ Playback devices.
■ Select "Speakers" (Asus Xonar DX Audio Device)
■ Configure.
■ 7.1 Surround
■ Next.
■ Select all optional speakers.
■ Next
■ No full range speakers.
■ Finish.
■ Select speakers again in sound window.
■ Right click on it.
■ Properties.
■ Advanced
■ 24bit, 96000 Hz
■ Ok
■ Exit Sound window.

The best setups in xonar audio panel:

7.1 Setup:

Main Setting:
■ Input = 8 channel.
■ Output = 7.1 Speakers
■ Digital audio 96 Khz
■ No DSP effects!

Flexbass:■ LFE Crossover Frequency 88 Hz
■ Make sure its ON. (having this on in stereo removes bass from sound. While having this on in surround, will send low frequency to subwoofer)

Stereo Setup:

Main Setting:
■ Input = 2 channel. or 8 channels. (2 preferred, 8 will be downmixed to 2 but with some quality loss)
■ Output = 2 Speakers
■ Digital audio 96 Khz
■ No DSP effects!

Flexbass:
■ Make sure its OFF (having this on in stereo removes bass from sound. While having this on in surround, will send low frequency to subwoofer)

Switching input causes running programs, including webbrowsers to fail on sound. Reload/restart to enable sound again.
For easy stereo switching, only en/dis-able Flexbass, and only switch output from 7.1 speakers to 2 speakers. This will have some loss in quality but makes instant switching easy without reloading.