DC sounds - any tips?

Tabris · 04-22-24, 11:58 AM

I'm a bit stunned by just how quiet the bombs are in this game. My friend and I were practicing with the hydrophone and deliberately attracted the enemy in order to hear what attacking escorts sound like from different angles. When they bombed us, neither of us knew for sure it was happening. I had expected the earth-shattering "BLAM" type of noise as found in Silent Hunter, but the depth charges here are more like dull thuds.

Ultimately we did know when we were hit, at least, since the boat rocked side to side, but in any case I find it very difficult to gauge how far away the charges are. They're quiet enough that I can't quite hear them over the sound of anyone speaking. Are there plans to change this?

So far this is my only significant issue with the game, everything else is going great.

- Tabris

Fidd · 04-22-24, 01:46 PM

Sound balance is a particularly weak area of the UI, especially, but not limited to the engine room. Personally, I think it would be really really useful for the devs to provide a list of which sounds are "effects" and which come under the global "master volume". In my view the diesel room in particularly needs the ability to set individual sounds independently of the other two sliders, covering DC's, diesel engine, telephone ringers and the EOT bells. Additionally, they need to add the missing alarm-bell repeaters in both the diesel room, and the e-motor room.

The sound for DC's in the area of your own sub is especially anaemic, and I've never found a way to render it as the appalling crash it should be. Likewise "3rd party" dc sounds are completely inaudible in the hull, when they should be broadly speaking, as loud as torpedo detonations, or nearly so, I estimate. Another really weak area of the sound is the sound of all the engines and propellers of the convoy, accounts of which clearly state that the general noise of which even at several km range, was readily audible in the hull. Likewise sinking ships should have considerable sound consequent from bulkheads failing.

I'm hoping that when the devs finish the current networking redesign, that they'll do something about all this, as sound is such a vital aspect of the game, or should be, and the current implementation is fairly lamentable.

Bilge_Rat · 04-24-24, 04:32 PM

Can’t say I noticed an issue, the sounds/volume seem like SH to me. You can tell when an escort is tracking you by the volume/frequency of the pings and when the DCs strike close by, you will hear it and suffer damage. You can also tell when the escorts do not know where you are since the DCs will fall farther away and will be duller/quieter.

Fidd · 04-26-24, 08:08 AM

I can hear them - just barely - even for damaging hits. May I ask where your sliders are? The reason I ask is that I usually play an engineer or machinist. My effects slider is full right, (max) and general volume is about 15% or so, as without that level, the noise from the diesels is just shattering. I'd be interested to know how loud the diesels are for you when in the diesel-room?

04-22-24, 11:58 AM	#1
Tabris Gunner Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 98 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	DC sounds - any tips? I'm a bit stunned by just how quiet the bombs are in this game. My friend and I were practicing with the hydrophone and deliberately attracted the enemy in order to hear what attacking escorts sound like from different angles. When they bombed us, neither of us knew for sure it was happening. I had expected the earth-shattering "BLAM" type of noise as found in Silent Hunter, but the depth charges here are more like dull thuds. Ultimately we did know when we were hit, at least, since the boat rocked side to side, but in any case I find it very difficult to gauge how far away the charges are. They're quiet enough that I can't quite hear them over the sound of anyone speaking. Are there plans to change this? So far this is my only significant issue with the game, everything else is going great. - Tabris

04-24-24, 04:32 PM	#3
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,793 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	Can’t say I noticed an issue, the sounds/volume seem like SH to me. You can tell when an escort is tracking you by the volume/frequency of the pings and when the DCs strike close by, you will hear it and suffer damage. You can also tell when the escorts do not know where you are since the DCs will fall farther away and will be duller/quieter. __________________

04-22-24, 01:46 PM	#2
Fidd XO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Blighty! Posts: 423 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Sound balance is a particularly weak area of the UI, especially, but not limited to the engine room. Personally, I think it would be really really useful for the devs to provide a list of which sounds are "effects" and which come under the global "master volume". In my view the diesel room in particularly needs the ability to set individual sounds independently of the other two sliders, covering DC's, diesel engine, telephone ringers and the EOT bells. Additionally, they need to add the missing alarm-bell repeaters in both the diesel room, and the e-motor room. The sound for DC's in the area of your own sub is especially anaemic, and I've never found a way to render it as the appalling crash it should be. Likewise "3rd party" dc sounds are completely inaudible in the hull, when they should be broadly speaking, as loud as torpedo detonations, or nearly so, I estimate. Another really weak area of the sound is the sound of all the engines and propellers of the convoy, accounts of which clearly state that the general noise of which even at several km range, was readily audible in the hull. Likewise sinking ships should have considerable sound consequent from bulkheads failing. I'm hoping that when the devs finish the current networking redesign, that they'll do something about all this, as sound is such a vital aspect of the game, or should be, and the current implementation is fairly lamentable.

04-26-24, 08:08 AM	#4
Fidd XO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Blighty! Posts: 423 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I can hear them - just barely - even for damaging hits. May I ask where your sliders are? The reason I ask is that I usually play an engineer or machinist. My effects slider is full right, (max) and general volume is about 15% or so, as without that level, the noise from the diesels is just shattering. I'd be interested to know how loud the diesels are for you when in the diesel-room?