GWX audio question

[Blacklight]

I have a question about the latest version of GWX. Does the latest version of GWX do something new to the audio that previous versions didn't do ? Ever since I've put the latest GWX in, even without the extra effects mods added in, the audio comes out all full of static and the speakers are popping loudly almost like my sound card is dying or shorting (Sometimes the static volume suddenly shoots way up by itself and blasts from the speakers almost knocking me out of my chair) Engine noises and fire especially seem to REALLY touch this issue off. No other program does this with my sound card. This computer is used as part of a music studio and it's audio is always pristine except for when SHIII with the new GWX is running. I never had this problem with a prior version. Uninstalling and reinstalling does not fix the problem. The odd thing is, I also get this static when I have the audio options in the game turned off. The static and popping only happen in game. There is no static or popping on any of the start menus. It's only when I'm actually in the game itself.

Any ideas ?

The sound card is a Soundblaster Live X-Gamer with the latest soundblaster drivers for it.

Update: I just did a reinstall and it's happening with the stock game as well. Explosions and fire definitely set it off. Everything is fine until a torpedo hits a ship. Either my sound card is going bad (which I doubt), or there is some kind of driver issue going on or something else. I'll try turning off the "Hardware Acceleration" in the sound setting in DXdiag and see if that may be the issue. I may have it cranked up too high.

[irish1958]

I have a question about the latest version of GWX. Does the latest version of GWX do something new to the audio that previous versions didn't do ? Ever since I've put the latest GWX in, even without the extra effects mods added in, the audio comes out all full of static and the speakers are popping loudly almost like my sound card is dying or shorting (Sometimes the static volume suddenly shoots way up by itself and blasts from the speakers almost knocking me out of my chair) Engine noises and fire especially seem to REALLY touch this issue off. No other program does this with my sound card. This computer is used as part of a music studio and it's audio is always pristine except for when SHIII with the new GWX is running. I never had this problem with a prior version. Uninstalling and reinstalling does not fix the problem. The odd thing is, I also get this static when I have the audio options in the game turned off. The static and popping only happen in game. There is no static or popping on any of the start menus. It's only when I'm actually in the game itself.

Any ideas ?

The sound card is a Soundblaster Live X-Gamer with the latest soundblaster drivers for it.

Update: I just did a reinstall and it's happening with the stock game as well. Explosions and fire definitely set it off. Everything is fine until a torpedo hits a ship. Either my sound card is going bad (which I doubt), or there is some kind of driver issue going on or something else. I'll try turning off the "Hardware Acceleration" in the sound setting in DXdiag and see if that may be the issue. I may have it cranked up too high.

Hardware Acceleration is known to cause this problem

[Blacklight]

Is this a problem with my sound drivers, or DirectX, or just a problem that SHIII has with things ?? I've never had this problem before recently. SHIII has been running with GWX on my computer for years without this issue. It only seems to have started after I installed GWX3, but this problem is also happening in stock and with the hardware accelleration in DXDiag shut off completely (which all my other games hate). I DO know that turning down the hardware accelleration in DXDiag does seem to lessen it, but still, every time I hit a ship with a torpedo or a shell, I get loud static and popping out of the speakers that doesn't stop until I exit the game. With sound accelleration turned on, the static and popping will start up after a couple minutes of play.
This problem is driving me insane.

[irish1958]

Is a puzzlement. What would happen if you deleted the sound file for torpedo impact? And, perhaps, replace it with one from one of the sound mods?
I really don't know very much about computers and sound cards; someone should come along and help you. I don't think this is a GWX problem.

[Blacklight]

I don't think it's related to GWX either. :06:

[Zilch]

I have the exact same problem, have been unable to find a fix. It's a loud static crashing woosh sound, right? Usually happens when it's all quiet and tense, and ends up scaring the crap out of you? Yeah...I know all about what that's like.

It also chokes up my system. It seems to be overworking the computer somehow, especially at high TC ratios.

I'm close to buying a new sound card, because of it. Then again, I'm not sure that would work. Just a guess.

Has anyone else had this issue? I've already tried the obvious...updating drivers, reinstalling, etc.

Also, for what it's worth, it only happens in SH III and SH IV.

[Blacklight]

I'm still having this issue and it's making SHIII almost unplayable. My sound card works perfectly and only does this for three games. SHIII and F.E.A.R. STRANGELY enough though, it only does it when I START Quake 2 when the load screen is coming up. When I run that game, it stops when I start playing and doesn't come back.

I have the exact same problem, have been unable to find a fix. It's a loud static crashing woosh sound, right? Usually happens when it's all quiet and tense, and ends up scaring the crap out of you? Yeah...I know all about what that's like.
It's annoying as hell. You're right. It's kind of a WHOOSHING staticy sound with some buzzing in it fading in and out. It seems to like to blast in with extreme volume randomly enough to scare the hell out of me. Then it continues until I shut the game off. It usually starts up during the first few minutes of playing.
I've tried updating drivers and every possible fix including turning off my audio hardware acceleration with no effect.
The thing that's strange is that I've gone years with the same sound card and the same drivers playing SHIII without this happening. It only started happening last October when I made this first post.

[Sailor Steve]

I sure don't know. SH3 with GWX and a host of other mods and SH4 with OM are the only games I play, and I've never heard anything like you described.

No ideas, sorry.

[IanC]

I had that problem with certain games when using my old soundblaster. Sometimes turning hardware acceleration off did the trick, other times I had to use the integrated soundcard on my mother board (completely unplugging the soundblaster card).
This may be a silly simple question, but does your mobo have an integrated soundcard? Sometimes it won't show up untill you install the proper drivers.

[Blacklight]

It does but I can't seem to get it to even display it. I KNOW the drivers are in there, but it seems that the Sounblaster drivers have eliminated them. It doesn't see the on-board sound ports at all. That's a solution that I already tried. I can't seem to find the sound drivers for it on the computer's restore disk either. Technicly, I SHOULD be able to select between the sound card or the onboard sound card and just switch plugs, but so far, this hasn't worked and I really don't want to have to do a system restore.

It may just be time for a new sound card. I have an MAudio Revolution 7.1 sitting around (Which is like a Soundblaster Audigy2), but strangely enough, when looking at the specs, my Soundblaster Live 5.1 card has a LOT better quality audio and this computer is for a home music studio.

[IanC]

It does but I can't seem to get it to even display it. I KNOW the drivers are in there, but it seems that the Sounblaster drivers have eliminated them. It doesn't see the on-board sound ports at all.

Well that doesn't sound right. :hmmm:
You should just do a Google search typing in your mobo and OS and download the drivers. I know if I don't install nVidia nForce chipset drivers, it won't detect it either.
It's always good to get your mobo sound working too (just in case). I find that my mobo sounds better than my old soundblaster anyways lol...

[tomfon]

Hello. I'd like to ask sthg relevant to the subject of this thread too.

As far as i know, it is not possible to change or turn off the hardware accelaration when running Vista or Win7. Is there any alternative?
I searched (a bit) but i didn't come up with a solution yet. Has this issue bothered any of you too?

Thank you.