Quiet sound, normal fixes ineffective

[lilwyvern4]

PLEASE read the OP before replying!

I'll cut the fluff and get right to the chase. I've got a Realtek HD Audio card on my motherboard and I'm sick of having to crank up the volume to be able to hear the game at all.

I have tried all the "normal" fixes I have come across through Google. .INI tweaks, 5.1 output, loudness equalization, 24-bit 44.1 KHz, absolutely NOTHING I have tried has any effect.

Notably, trying any of the audio enhancements, both in Windows Control Panel, and in Realtek HD Audio Manager, has no effect no matter what I try to enable. Also, when switching to 5.1 output like that fix says, even when disabling all the "optional" speakers, the sound test still tries to play them. And I've noticed that certain sounds are missing when I play the game in 5.1, for instance, the sound when picking an alchemy ingredient.

It occured to me that I might have screwed something up when I was foolishly dicking around with permissions. I tried to reset them as best I could with icacls.exe, but I still see no difference.

Stuff I've tried:

 

* .INI tweaks. I set all the audio levels and master volume to 5.0000 and there is no noticeable effect.

 

* Turning on Loudness Equalization. Again, no effect.

* Updating sound card drivers, both through Realtek site and through Device Manager. Both caused my sound to stop working completely until I reinstalled the default drivers for my motherboard. It complained about no

* Uninstalling all the NVIDIA High Definition Audio devices in my Device Manager. They just reinstalled themselves.

 

* Uninstalling NVIDIA High Definition Audio drivers from Control Panel. Again, reinstalled after reboot.

 

* Tried plugging my speakers into the audio ports in my Logitech G510 Keyboard. Even quieter. No other ports to try.

 

* Dicked around with permissions as much as possible. No effect no matter what I did. Yes, I am an administrator.

I tossed my DXDiag into the below spoiler.

 

 

 

I'm at my wit's end here folks. Please halp.

[Georgiegril]

I think some of the tweaks might have been in error, specifically:

5.1 output, loudness equalization, 24-bit 44.1 KHz,

 

Try the following:

16-bit 44.1 hz

2.1 speakers

disable audio enhancements

[lilwyvern4]

I think some of the tweaks might have been in error, specifically:

5.1 output, loudness equalization, 24-bit 44.1 KHz,

 

Try the following:

16-bit 44.1 hz

2.1 speakers

disable audio enhancements

It's a little, itty-bitty bit better, but still not nearly as loud as I would like it. Any other suggestions for things I may have missed?

 

EDIT: A thought occured to me. Does SKSE do anything to bypass INI settings? I noticed that when I tried to enable logging with a skyrimcustom.ini, I didn't get any.

Edited June 2, 2013 by lilwyvern4

[lilwyvern4]

Bumping this. Still absolutely nothing works. At this point, I'm positively furious with this damn game. Absolutely NOTHING works.

 

For some reason, Skyrim doesn't seem to abide its own INI settings. I've tried changing both the ones in the My Games folder, and the one in my steamapps folder. Neither does a thing. Why is this? Did they patch out INI tweaks or something when I wasn't looking?

[Georgiegril]

Sorry you are having such a difficult time!

 

I have a couple more thoughts:

 

If your game is trying to run the volume through the wrong drivers, then that might be your problem.

When you open the system information window on steam (click on the help tab) which audio drivers does it reference?

When you say that the nvidia drivers "reinstalled themselves" it sounds to me like you may have your nvidia drivers on auto update. I suggest you disable the auto update feature (you can do that in the Nvidia Control Panel)

 

If you are using the Windows driver update to update your nvidia drivers, you may also have corrupt graphics driver files, but if you are not noticing any of that I would hate to confuse matters...just make sure to disable the nvidia auto update function and then disable the nvidia hd audio (you shouldn't have to remove the files, just disable.)

I think it may be possible that you might need to log out and log back into steam, and maybe go back into online mode to allow it to capture your changes of hardware (if you do change from the nvidia audio to the realtek.)--but I'd try first without doing that.

 

The problem you are having with the .ini files might be that any time you open the steam game options on the first launch menu screen, it will re-write your ini files. The easiest way to deal with this is to make a backup of the ini files, do whatever you need to do in the steam options menu, and then, check your ini file. If something is wrong you can copy-paste from your backup. You were right--the ini files in the documents folfer are the correct ones to use, the ones in the steamapps folder will not affect your game.

 

I don't believe that skse affects any volume settings.

 

If none of the above helps, then could you please post the text version of your BOSS log (cut/paste, enclose in spoiler tags) and your prefs.iini and ini files (same thing with the spoiler tags...) It may not be relevant, but there mght be something helpful there.

[lilwyvern4]

Sorry you are having such a difficult time!

 

Yeah, me too. I can't believe how much trouble this damn game has given me. At least I can play it most of the time. Unlike Fallout 3. But that's a topic for another day.

 

BOSS log is in spoiler, as well as attached to the post.

 

 

 

BOSS

Version 2.1.1

 

 

======================================

Summary

======================================

 

 

Plugin Type Count

Recognised (or sorted by user rules) 55

Unrecognised 1

Inactive 0

All 56

 

 

Plugin Message Type Count

Warning 0

Error 0

All 34

 

 

* Your masterlist has been updated to revision 7072 (2013-06-02).

* No change in recognised plugin list since last run.

* Note: Latest BOSS thread ("http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1457307-relz-boss-for-skyrim/")

* Note: The BOSS team has been overwhelmed with the popularity of submissions of unrecognised plugins from the BOSS Log and the number of outstanding unique submissions. As of 26 April 2013 we are at over 5500+ plugins to add to the Masterlist dating as far back as September 2012. If you are interested in helping to get these plugins added to BOSS's masterlist, please PM Aellis (Bethesda Softworks Forums ("http://forums.bethsoft.com/user/364024-aellis/") or Nexus Mods ("http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?showuser=65745/")).

* Note: Your SKSE is up-to-date.

 

 

======================================

SKSE Plugins

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SKSE Version: 0.1.6.13

 

BW_plugin.dll

 

DCF_plugin.dll

 

SKSE_Elys_Uncapper.dll Version: 1.15.1.1

 

 

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If your game is trying to run the volume through the wrong drivers, then that might be your problem.

When you open the system information window on steam (click on the help tab) which audio drivers does it reference?

 

 

Speakers (Realtek HD Audio) I set this as my primary device in Control Panel.

 

 

When you say that the nvidia drivers "reinstalled themselves" it sounds to me like you may have your nvidia drivers on auto update. I suggest you disable the auto update feature (you can do that in the Nvidia Control Panel)

 

 

Yes, I did have them on auto-update and I turned that off in Geforce Experience. I didn't find anything about auto-update in NVIDIA Control Panel, but I'm going to assume you meant the former. Either way, I have shut down that service for now and haven't restarted yet.

 

 

If you are using the Windows driver update to update your nvidia drivers, you may also have corrupt graphics driver files, but if you are not noticing any of that I would hate to confuse matters...just make sure to disable the nvidia auto update function and then disable the nvidia hd audio (you shouldn't have to remove the files, just disable.)

 

 

God no. I've heard horror stories when it comes to Windows driver updates. I did that with my sound card out of desperation. I go through the NVIDIA website for all my graphics drivers. I will try disabling the HD audio devices, though.

 

 

 

The problem you are having with the .ini files might be that any time you open the steam game options on the first launch menu screen, it will re-write your ini files. The easiest way to deal with this is to make a backup of the ini files, do whatever you need to do in the steam options menu, and then, check your ini file. If something is wrong you can copy-paste from your backup. You were right--the ini files in the documents folfer are the correct ones to use, the ones in the steamapps folder will not affect your game.

 

 

Are you referring to the launcher that pops up when you choose to play a game through the Steam window? I don't use that; I launch SKSE from a shortcut on my desktop. The odd thing is that I check my INI files after running the game and they're still as I left them. For instance, I set the "fMasterVolume" variable to 20.0000 and there's no noticeable difference in volume.

 

Also, I'd like to thank you in advance for you assistance thus far. This has bothered me for so long. Even if I don't get it fixed, it's nice to know someone tried to help me.

[Georgiegril]

Well, you are welcome. I only wish I were more helpful. Now I'm just grasping at straws...

I forget if you mentioned it, but I am assuming that you have the most updated drivers for your sound/mobo...

When you open the speaker properties window, have you tried enabling/disabling the box to give applications exclusive control of the device (mine is toggled off, but...)

 

Have you tried disabling automatic headphone detection?If you use a mic, have you tried disabling it?

Also, just to make sure, you have disabled surround sound and selected stereo speakers?

Finally, in the communications tab of the "sound" window of the control panel (the Windows control panel, too many control panels!), you have selected "do nothing" if windows detects communication activity?

 

And now, I am googling...

In the event that you actually do have a surround sound speaker setup, this webpage might help you to configure it in a way that maximizes the sound to the main speakers. I just ran across it hoping I'd find something you haven't, so I can't vouch for it or anything....

 

Also, you probably noticed but there seems to be new audio drivers available in the last week.

 

Really that is all I can think of. I hope something here helps! If I run across anything else I'll let you know....Good luck!

[lilwyvern4]

 

I forget if you mentioned it, but I am assuming that you have the most updated drivers for your sound/mobo...

When you open the speaker properties window, have you tried enabling/disabling the box to give applications exclusive control of the device (mine is toggled off, but...)

Aye, I double-checked, just to make sure I had the most recent drivers. Just got done reinstalling them. Interestingly, Realtek HD Audio Manager no longer has an icon in the system tray.

 

 

 

Have you tried disabling automatic headphone detection?

Not sure how to do that. How do? Google wasn't very friendly.

 

 

 

Also, just to make sure, you have disabled surround sound and selected stereo speakers?

Aye.

 

 

 

Finally, in the communications tab of the "sound" window of the control panel (the Windows control panel, too many control panels!), you have selected "do nothing" if windows detects communication activity?

Aye.

 

The others were not applicable. I went out of my way to disable all other audio devices in Windows Control Panel and set up my headset as a "default communications device". I plug a 3.5 mm headset into my keyboard's built-in jacks as it's a lot more convenient and comfortable than reaching around behind my tower and unplugging my speakers every time I want to talk on Skype.

 

With that in mind, though, certainly since it emulates USB audio, it wouldn't be a problem, would it?

 

Finally, I'm still trying to wrap my head around why Skyrim is ignoring the settings I altered in the INI file. Does it need a specific encoding? I've tried Windows Notepad as well as Notepad++. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

[lilwyvern4]

BWA HA HA HA HA! VICTORY!!!!

 

So, I figured out why Skyrim was strangely ignoring my .INI tweaks. Apparently, the skyrimprefs.ini in the steamapps folder overwrites settings compared to the ones in the My Games folder. Deleting the volume lines from the former allows the latter to work its magic!

 

Thank you for your help. Even though I stumbled upon the solution myself, it's nice to know there's helpful peeps here.

 

EDIT: Wait, hold the phone. My sound output is still being an ass.

 

Interestingly, I decided to look at the properties of my speakers, and I found something I had thought nothing of at the time. Pic is in the spoiler below.

 

 

 

 

If you don't care to look at the picture, or can't for whatever reason, my Speaker properties show several different sets of speakers that each have their own volume controls. Apparently, Windows seems to think that I have a surround sound speaker set plugged in when all I have is stereo speakers, even though I specificially set it to output only in stereo. If I lower the volume on those "Front" speakers, all sound goes down. Whereas there's a slider for "rear green out", it doesn't do anything. I'm going to fiddle with some stuff. If I find a solution, I'll post here again.

Edited June 3, 2013 by lilwyvern4

[lilwyvern4]

Over 24 hours since last post. Dropped to page 3, still not fixed. My last message has been quoted here for thy convenience.

 

Interestingly, I decided to look at the properties of my speakers, and I found something I had thought nothing of at the time. Pic is in the spoiler below.

 

http://forums.nexusmods.com/public/style_images/underground/attachicon.gifSpeaker Properties.jpg

 

 

If you don't care to look at the picture, or can't for whatever reason, my Speaker properties show several different sets of speakers that each have their own volume controls. Apparently, Windows seems to think that I have a surround sound speaker set plugged in when all I have is stereo speakers, even though I specificially set it to output only in stereo. If I lower the volume on those "Front" speakers, all sound goes down. Whereas there's a slider for "rear green out", it doesn't do anything. I'm going to fiddle with some stuff. If I find a solution, I'll post here again.