Skyrim sound problems

[ammaa]

Hi.
The problem I'm having with Skyrim has very little to do with the other problems that people have been having.
In the very beginning the game itself was thoroughly mute but then after googling some things I ended up in Microsoft's website and downloaded a DirectX thing which solved my problem partially. Now I only hear voices and background music. Footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds are either non-existent or are set to REALLY low volumes.

I have an on-board Realtek sound driver. According to my Google searches, this driver has some huge incompatibilities with Skyrim and it's hindering playing the game for some by a huge lot.

Here's the list of things I've already attempted hoping to solve the problem.
I have:
Updated Realtek's driver.
Updated ATI's driver. (I was clueless enough to give it a try, you never know)
Reinstalled the game.
Set XP's sound thingie to 5.1 as well as Realtek's software (see picture)

The thing is that I MIGHT know what's causing all this. I could fix it if it wasn't for something.

As you can see in this picture http://i44.tinypic.com/mtt668.jpg (sorry for the foreign language, it's impossible to change XP's language settings once it's been installed) I set my computer the same way another person would, should that person have a 5.1 sound system. But the Front, Rear, Subwoofer, Center and Side (in the volume's panel) pointers are unclickable even though they're maxed out. The thing is: I don't know if they're really maxed-out since they're greyed. They're probably not, otherwise I'd be hearing the lacking sounds in Skyrim.

The point of this thread is to know whether or not it's possible to render those pointers clickable so the game can play the lacking sounds as well, since they seem to be mute in the pic.

I suppose that due to some incompatibility error the game wrongly thinks I have a 5.1 sound system and is trying to play the other sounds (footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds) through their respective speakers but since I don't have any 5.1 sound system, they're sent to nowhere and I end up not hearing anything but voices and music.

Am I going the right direction? The gameplay is really boring without the other sounds and I can't think of a solution but to fool Skyrim into thinking that I DO have a 5.1 sound system.

Any effort from you guys is really appreciated.
Thanks.

----

Motherboard: Gigabyte EP43-DS3L
CPU - Q9450
Video Card - ATI HD4870
Power Supply - Some powerful Zalman
Ram(total amount and number of sticks): 2 2GB sticks but XP reads 3,2gb only
Windows version and if it's 32 or 64 bit: XP 32-bit

 

[steinarth]

My problem is that I cant hear when people are talking excepting I look to right or left (Dont face the people) cause there is a "blind spot" In the voice so i can only hear them when I look on the left or right side of them. Then I can only hear what they are saying in ether left or right side of my headphones. Is this the same problem you have?

 

[AntiZig]

Hi.
The problem I'm having with Skyrim has very little to do with the other problems that people have been having.
In the very beginning the game itself was thoroughly mute but then after googling some things I ended up in Microsoft's website and downloaded a DirectX thing which solved my problem partially. Now I only hear voices and background music. Footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds are either non-existent or are set to REALLY low volumes.

I have an on-board Realtek sound driver. According to my Google searches, this driver has some huge incompatibilities with Skyrim and it's hindering playing the game for some by a huge lot.

Here's the list of things I've already attempted hoping to solve the problem.
I have:
Updated Realtek's driver.
Updated ATI's driver. (I was clueless enough to give it a try, you never know)
Reinstalled the game.
Set XP's sound thingie to 5.1 as well as Realtek's software (see picture)

The thing is that I MIGHT know what's causing all this. I could fix it if it wasn't for something.

As you can see in this picture http://i44.tinypic.com/mtt668.jpg (sorry for the foreign language, it's impossible to change XP's language settings once it's been installed) I set my computer the same way another person would, should that person have a 5.1 sound system. But the Front, Rear, Subwoofer, Center and Side (in the volume's panel) pointers are unclickable even though they're maxed out. The thing is: I don't know if they're really maxed-out since they're greyed. They're probably not, otherwise I'd be hearing the lacking sounds in Skyrim.

The point of this thread is to know whether or not it's possible to render those pointers clickable so the game can play the lacking sounds as well, since they seem to be mute in the pic.

I suppose that due to some incompatibility error the game wrongly thinks I have a 5.1 sound system and is trying to play the other sounds (footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds) through their respective speakers but since I don't have any 5.1 sound system, they're sent to nowhere and I end up not hearing anything but voices and music.

Am I going the right direction? The gameplay is really boring without the other sounds and I can't think of a solution but to fool Skyrim into thinking that I DO have a 5.1 sound system.

Any effort from you guys is really appreciated.
Thanks.

----

Motherboard: Gigabyte EP43-DS3L
CPU - Q9450
Video Card - ATI HD4870
Power Supply - Some powerful Zalman
Ram(total amount and number of sticks): 2 2GB sticks but XP reads 3,2gb only
Windows version and if it's 32 or 64 bit: XP 32-bit

if realtek and skyrim don't like each other, I doubt you will see a quick fix. bethesda might eventually fix the issue, but don't expect it to be anytime soon. Realtek is even less likely to update drivers for such things.

So, if you set windows sound profile to say headphones or 2 speaker system you get no sound at all? how many speakers do you have? if you have at least 2 you can check if other ports on your motherboard are outputting to those other ports you think are serving as other sound in your game.

Basically the solution will probably be as follows: either you get a 5.1 system (given that after you try the above you find out that it is set to 5.1 and working ok) or you go get a sound card for your computer and install it so you don't have to use the integrated one that isn't compatible with skyrim.

 

[TRONSQUALL]

For all who are having the too quiet problem spread this far and wide for I did it without any fancy tricks.I tried everything just like all of you and all i found was a slight improvement like some.Some of the common stabs in the dark that have been floating around here recently are not working so in the midst of giving up it dawned on me almost every sound card whether built in or stand alone card they all have equalizer software that is enabled or that you can enable that can be adjusted like that have preset volume mixes the fix works it is simple choose voice preset or the equal I'm sure they all don't have the same name for it but you get my drift anyway i chose voice and noticed one slider bar amongst the equalizer bars that was higher than the rest preset by the voice selection i mentioned of course so i rose it alone to max and adjusted the surrounding bars slightly as well and poof the sound including the voices were so loud i had to turn the volume down a bit so if your card has a audio deck software adjust the equalizer and bam! your welcome.

 

[thatTechGuy]

try going to control panel > sound > checked marked speakers > properties > the levels tab above > balance:

from here just put the speakers that aren't actually there to 0 and max your left, right and sub.


Also may wanna try going to control panel > sound > checked marked speakers > configure:

from here just pick which setup you have and dont worry about the subwoofer as it doesn't show up in the picture or have a 2.1 channel tab -- the sub will still work

this worked for me in the end when i tried skyrim again, hope this works for you as well!

 

[tekmage]

Are your speakers digital or analog? I noticed in your screenshot that you have SPDIF clicked on. Have you tried unclicking it to see if it enables the sub, and the other settings?

 

[3quilibrium]

I suppose that due to some incompatibility error the game wrongly thinks I have a 5.1 sound system and is trying to play the other sounds (footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds) through their respective speakers but since I don't have any 5.1 sound system, they're sent to nowhere and I end up not hearing anything but voices and music.

Am I going the right direction? The gameplay is really boring without the other sounds and I can't think of a solution but to fool Skyrim into thinking that I DO have a 5.1 sound system.

I'm not sure if Xp has exactly the same settings as Windows 7 but I had problems and tried various thing. One was to right click on the speaker icon at the bottom right, click on playback devices, highlight the option you are using(mine says speakers and then the name of my sound card), and then on properties. Next click the advanced tab and change the sound quality down to the lowest and if it works then move it up until you reach the point of the problem.

Another point could be that the program you have installed thinks you have 5.1 even though windows knows that you do not. Check your windows options by right clicking on the speaker icon at the bottom right, click on playback devices, highlight the option you are using(mine says speakers and then the name of my sound card), and then on to configure at the bottom. This should take you through a sound wizard for your speakers. make sure it knows you have stereo only and whether your speakers are full-range or not. If you are unsure, try both options and see if that helps.

Another option might sound a bit cheeky but make sure you have the speakers correctly plugged in(both in the right sockets and firmly pushed in). We've all done it in the past. 😀

 

[coalescentdivide]

My problem is that I cant hear when people are talking excepting I look to right or left (Dont face the people) cause there is a "blind spot" In the voice so i can only hear them when I look on the left or right side of them. Then I can only hear what they are saying in ether left or right side of my headphones. Is this the same problem you have?

im having this same problem when i use two speakers, as if skyrim is forcing 5.1 surround. if i hook it up to a surround system the center channel makes up for the voices directly in front of you...there must be a way to configure skyrim to not force 5.1

 

[akkad]

im having this same problem when i use two speakers, as if skyrim is forcing 5.1 surround. if i hook it up to a surround system the center channel makes up for the voices directly in front of you...there must be a way to configure skyrim to not force 5.1

Im having the same issue, although i doubt its skyrim forcing 5.1 because I haven't changed my speakers (although i did start getting it after switching to headphones for a bit) and I've only recently had this problem. I've played for 42+ hours before it appeared. If you find any solutions, please tell.

 

[Lashley]

My problem is that I cant hear when people are talking excepting I look to right or left (Dont face the people) cause there is a "blind spot" In the voice so i can only hear them when I look on the left or right side of them. Then I can only hear what they are saying in ether left or right side of my headphones. Is this the same problem you have?

I have this exact problem too! Can anyone help?

 

[eblek]

I have this exact problem too! Can anyone help?

try that sound fixes. i solved it after setting speaker setup from 7.1 to 2.1.
i also use 44.1Khz 16-bit.

http://geekmontage.com/texts/skyrim...title-screen-menu-crash-freezes-bsod-glitches

 

[jfizzle4321]

I have this exact problem too! Can anyone help?

go to realtek in control panel and turn off 7.1 to stereo.

 

[keck]

I suppose that due to some incompatibility error the game wrongly thinks I have a 5.1 sound system and is trying to play the other sounds (footsteps, weapons' swinging and hitting sounds and environment sounds) through their respective speakers but since I don't have any 5.1 sound system, they're sent to nowhere and I end up not hearing anything but voices and music.

 

[AntiZig]

if you don't have a surround sound system then set your windows and realtek audio to headset or stereo speakers set up.

 

[AshfromSpace]

Hello everyone The simplest way to solve this problem is to:
1-Search for sound in the orb (windows 7 start menu i.e the thing at the bottomest-leftiest part of the screen)
2-Click on "sound" in the search results
3-Right-Click on whatever type of sound device you have and click "Properties" option
4-Click on the "enhancements" tab. Now tick the "Loudness Equalization" option.
5-Play the game and have a hell of a time 😀

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey