Some applications take priority for sound - makes other apps quiet

[Youmg Sandwiche]

Hi there,

I have a curious problem on my new laptop. Certain applications seem to take priority of sound making other apps quieter. I can see this in effect when I close one app and then suddenly a youtube video or spotify gets a lot louder.

So far I haven't found a pattern to what applications take priority, I have a hunch it's kind of first come first served? At any rate it's an incredibly annoying problem because if I have teamspeak and youtube open, youtube videos will be incredibly quiet even at 100 volume in the windows mixer. If I then close teamspeak the video will suddenly go back to normal volume and be crazy loud.

I've tried re-installing the realtek drivers but to no avail. I've also googled this many times but maybe I'm not using the right keywords.

If anyone has experienced this or has a suggestion I will try anything. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[Brotuulaan]

I've got a hunch that it's a setting in your communications tab in your Sound window. Which version of Windows are you running? I'm currently on a Windows 7 machine, so that's how I'll outline the steps.


1) Right-click on your speaker icon in your task tray and select Playback Devices, Recording Devices, or Sounds (They all open the same window but different tabs).

2) Select the Communications tab.

3) Check which option is selected. If either the second or third options are selected (reducing all other volume by 80% or 30%), that's probably all you need to do. If the fourth option is checked (to do nothing), then the problem's somewhere else.


My guess is that the second option is selected. I think it's set by default in Windows 7.

 

[Brotuulaan]

Also test which programs do this. If it is consistently communications programs and these steps don't fix it, then there may be other settings to check.

 

[Youmg Sandwiche]

I've got a hunch that it's a setting in your communications tab in your Sound window. Which version of Windows are you running? I'm currently on a Windows 7 machine, so that's how I'll outline the steps.


1) Right-click on your speaker icon in your task tray and select Playback Devices, Recording Devices, or Sounds (They all open the same window but different tabs).

2) Select the Communications tab.

3) Check which option is selected. If either the second or third options are selected (reducing all other volume by 80% or 30%), that's probably all you need to do. If the fourth option is checked (to do nothing), then the problem's somewhere else.


My guess is that the second option is selected. I think it's set by default in Windows 7.

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately this is not the case. Through past experiences I've learned to knock off that setting as soon as I set up a new computer/laptop.

It isn't exclusively communication programs, it's pretty much any program. There was a setting on my speakers saying "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This would make sense as certain applications take priority over the speakers but alas this was not the problem either.

Maybe I can attempt to describe it better:
1) Boot up my laptop
2) Open teamspeak/steam/some game
3) Open chrome and watch a video -> The sound is really quiet and tinny - I have to turn my speakers right up to hear it
4) CLOSE the program I opened earlier (TS/steam/etc.) -> Video I'm watching IMMEDIATELY gets louder and the bass back

I've looked through all of the options on my speakers and can't see anything that would be doing this.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Brotuulaan]

If you reopen the first program, does the volume of either program change, or is it only with the first combo of programs when you boot up?

 

[Youmg Sandwiche]

If you reopen the first program, does the volume of either program change, or is it only with the first combo of programs when you boot up?

No the volume doesn't change if you re-open it. It's just the first combination - as if it's some kind of first-come first-served for the speaker output.

 

[Brotuulaan]

You mentioned TS several times in your posts. How many other programs do the same thing?

 

[Brotuulaan]

And have you run Windows Update lately? I've been reading elsewhere that sometimes the chipset drivers can cause audio glitches.

 

[Youmg Sandwiche]

The main programs that cause the problem are teamspeak, runescape and league of legends. I will try updating my windows though maybe it will help!

 

[Brotuulaan]

Did updating correct the issue, or is it still occurring?

And I know this is a SUPER long shot, but you're not running any audio peripherals, are you? (I ran into audio troubles trying to use my audio recording interface as my audio out for my speakers even for everyday stuff because I got tired of switching back and forth whenever I did any recording. That particular issue still has not been fixed in 8.1 as of last week.)

 

[Brotuulaan]

And which browser do you use? LOL would trace back to Steam, but Runescape could be in any number of browsers. Have you tested that in multiple browsers to see whether that was related to the issue?