Curse

Zakarr · Mar 14, 2006, 01:11 PM // 13:11

I have integrated Soundstorm chip (nForce2 chipset) with latest possible drivers.

Middle sound quality slider position produce most less errors. Left side lacks some sound effects all the time. Right side blurs sound like they come other side of wall, decrease frame rate and sound positions are very wrong. Even I zoom the camera to my character eyes and he takes damage, his moaning sound comes from the distance.

The default center setting randomly loops skill activating sounds, sometimes hit sounds are completely gone, background in-game music starts randomly looping after few seconds or there is completely silence for awhile or it just change another track before first one has ended. I have also heard some snaps in sound which weren't before these updates.

I'm glad that Anet tries to improve sound playback. Some players are happier because their sound hardware has good support for DS3D. Those who have errors, just need a checkbox where sound playback works exactly same way as before these sound updates. I can't afford new sound hardware right now.

Peewee · Mar 14, 2006, 01:26 PM // 13:26

I have sound problems since they added the feature. Its especially annoying.

I get looping sounds, i get a wierd loud buzz at loading screens, some sounds are completely missing (the Tigers Fury sound is gone, but the Horn that accompanies all Ranger stances is still there, and repeats itself 3-4 times) Weaon attacks sound to loud and crisp on max quality, non-existant on low, or hammer attacks sound strange. Lightning simply sounds aweful, instead of the crack of thunder, i now have a crappy fizzle, which cuts out in strange places, or the sound of somebody blowing a raspberry.

Since is seems that such a large amount of people are affected with seemingly very little people actually benefitting from the change, i suggest that either they pull the plug on this, fix it, or give us a choice of wether we used the quality control method (direct 3d i think it is) or the older method, which at least made the game playable.

I simply cannoy monk effectively when anybody is using lightning, simply becuase a great deal of monking is surprisingly based on sound. With the sound off i notice my monking ability goes down dramatically, as sound tells you about the environment while you concentrate on healing. Having the sound on with lightning damage flying around is only slightly better than having the sound off.

All in all thats another thing that my PC rejects about guildwars. The graphics problem so many games have with the frankly crap GeForce 4000 MX (I hate you NVidea) and now this sound problem isnt making GW a very enjoyable game to play at the moment. pls pls ANET, Fix it asap, and dont do what GeForce do, and simply ignore the problem, hoping that we upgrade our sound cards, cos some of us cant afford new sound cards and Factions you know....

Peewee · Mar 14, 2006, 01:34 PM // 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klmpee

idk those r to leet for sound.
To turn of the option.. f 11 then turn quality off all the way.. i like the sounds tho

sorry bout double post. wont let me edit prevous post for some reason

That isnt working for me. The weapons and spell sounds all sound dull or faulty even with it 'turned off', and spell sounds are still missing.

The truth is i dont think knocking the slider down all the way actually switches the new method they are using for sounds. I dont think the same program is being used, so what you suggest is rather like asking me to fiddle with Graphics Equaliser on WMP when i want it to sound as good as Real or Quicktime.

Trouble is, i think ANET are proberly fairly swamped at the mo with the beta coming up, and the recent server problems. I appreciate the new graphical upgrade (some textures/reflections/lighting are working that didnt before) but this sound problem has to be sorted. Think of the Children!......who, erm....need the sound to live....or something......

Sagius Truthbarron · Mar 14, 2006, 01:37 PM // 13:37

Ever since they 'improved' the ingame sounds I've been having a hard time hearing any ingame effects at all.

koa_Torqual · Mar 14, 2006, 01:58 PM // 13:58

Please can I bring people's attention if I haven't done already to the principal change in this new sound engine.

The positional audio is now relative to your character, and not the camera as it was before.

Therefore events that happen close to your character are very loud - events far from your character are quiet.

Sounds no longer get quieter/louder as you zoom out/in, and they are no longer louder in the foreground of the screen/quieter in the background of the screen.

This is actually a major counter-intuitive change as you are 'seeing' in the third person through the camera and 'hearing' in the first person through the character.

With the old system you saw and heard from the same position. This is how sound is implemented in a whole host of games with 3D audio - think AOE3 or Rome: Total War. Key thing is that volume changes as you zoom in/out and you get a sense of depth and distance, of relative time and space. You felt like you were actually observing a real event.

The misalignment of visual and audio is actually uncomfortable for the brain to process at a subconscious level and this is why people are possibly not enjoying the sound, without realising completely why.

I think that, if people are going to ask for stuff to be put back how it was, they should be specific about what and the reasons why. I really think that this positional audio change is the main reason for people's dissatisfaction and that the feedback should be specifically directed to Arenanet.

I encourage everyone to experiment by running around the fire at Yak's Bend and swivelling the view a little. Ask yourself if it sounds 'right' and, if not, please post feedback somewhere, anywhere!!

jimmy_logic · Mar 14, 2006, 02:38 PM // 14:38

I guess they couldn't roll this part of the update back... it is annoying when you whacking something and no sound comes out!!!

Also I wonder why the beta testers didn't pick this out.... ~_~

Regards

Sectus · Mar 14, 2006, 05:42 PM // 17:42

I really hope anet fixes this problem as soon as possible, it makes the experience a lot less enjoyable with all these sound problems. I sent a bug report to anet support regarding this, and after 2 days I was really disappointed to get a response recommending me to update my *video* drivers and saying that would fix the problem. What's even worse is that I even had the newest versions of those drivers, something anet support could easily have checked by reading the dxdiag.txt I sent them.

I sent an update regarding my problem to anet support, suggesting they'd get whatever programmers are in charge of those sound engine updates to be aware of these sound problems. Although I have a bad feeling I'll get another dumb suggestion such as updating my monitor drivers or whatever.

I get the impression anet aren't properly aware of these problems. Their test machines are probably equipped with good new hardware, probably only sound cards which meets the exact specifications the new sound engine requires. Which may be why anet didn't catch the bugs before they released the new build with the new sound improvements.

If Gaile Gray or another anet employee reads this, PLEASE make sure the right people are aware of these sound problems. I'm not currently playing the game until these problems are fixed. Having no music, and sounds either looping or not playing at all takes away a lot of the enjoyment from the game.

To try to define the problem better, here are the exact symptoms I'm getting:
-Certain sounds will loop 4-5 times before ending. It seems to be random which sounds loop.

-Music stops working after playing one tune (except for the login screen, where it stops working after the second tune). Loading a new area resets the music problem, but it still stops working after one tune. I'm using Directsong, but I don't know if it's related.

-There's random distorted pops and cracks to the sound. Very noticable when wearing headphones.

-Certain sounds will not play at all. It seems to be random which sounds doesn't play.

The sound card I'm using is an onboard Sound Blaster Live on a MSI K8N Diamond motherboard with an nforce chipset.

Sectus · Mar 14, 2006, 06:20 PM // 18:20

I asked a few friends who has the same sound problems as me and they told me what sound cards they're using. Those mentioned were Sound Blaster Live and different versions of Sound Blaster Audigy (1, 2 and 2 ZS). I asked a few people without the sound problems, and they were using an integrated AC'97 sound card.

Sounds like the problem is most likely related to Sound Blaster cards.

The Muffen Man · Mar 14, 2006, 06:22 PM // 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I would like to provide you with some information on this situation, kindly provided by our Server Team:

We recently increased the number of options for sound. The audio quality bar only enables hardware acceleration at the highest two setting levels (the ones to the right of center). If you are noticing problems at these levels, try turning the slider down to one of the three lower positions (on the left). Now, what's important to note is that the center setting should be approximately equivalent to the performance settings of the old audio system. So you won't be getting poorer sound with that change, and it may do the trick to fix the problem. The two lower settings should provide additional CPU savings for lower-end system by reducing the allowable number of simultaneous voices.

Hope this helps, and please continue to report if you have unresolved issues.

Nope nada no matter what i do it still is very bad sound

TomD22 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:29 PM // 18:29

It is surprising how much i rely on sound as a monk (as someone said above) - particularly, when playing prot monk i use the distinctive sound of warriors hitting people to help me spot who needs guardian (no bar-watching for me

:P)

I, and others in my guild, have a lot of the same problems mentioned previously. Some sounds don't play at all. Some don't play properly (my warrior makes a swooshing miss noise quite often even when he's hit the target). Most annoyingly, some sounds loop both during and after the battle. In one particular instance, 5 out of the 8 in our team could all hear restore conditions looping for the whole time of the countdown to the next match.

I have a Creative Audigy 4, and i'm using a 5.1 setup with the slider on full. I can't speak for the setups others in my guild have of course.

(i very much agree with whoever said above that having sounds relative to the character not the camera is very, very counterintuitive. Even if the bugs are fixed, this is always going to sound wrong to most people's ears.

IKNOW · Mar 14, 2006, 06:36 PM // 18:36

Same problem here too.

Please fix this Anet, it's driving me INSANE!!!

angshuman · Mar 14, 2006, 07:15 PM // 19:15

Sound Card: SB Live! 24-bit

Problem: No Music at all!

I tried all quality settings, all volume levels for all sliders, etc. etc. All other sounds (effects, skills) work fine at all quality levels.

eudas · Mar 14, 2006, 07:30 PM // 19:30

It also seems that many of the people who are reporting problems on this thread mention the DirectSong upgrade, so I'd suggest that Anet look at that.

eudas

GraceAlone · Mar 14, 2006, 07:33 PM // 19:33

No DS other than the free download for me, and it still has problems. I'm going to submit the issue to Anet when I get home just to add my .02 cents to things.

tlr1293 · Mar 14, 2006, 07:46 PM // 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I would like to provide you with some information on this situation, kindly provided by our Server Team:

We recently increased the number of options for sound. The audio quality bar only enables hardware acceleration at the highest two setting levels (the ones to the right of center). If you are noticing problems at these levels, try turning the slider down to one of the three lower positions (on the left). Now, what's important to note is that the center setting should be approximately equivalent to the performance settings of the old audio system. So you won't be getting poorer sound with that change, and it may do the trick to fix the problem. The two lower settings should provide additional CPU savings for lower-end system by reducing the allowable number of simultaneous voices.

Hope this helps, and please continue to report if you have unresolved issues.

Sorry Gaile - bad info. Nothing changes and it really is getting on the nerves, I should say. It does feel as if I am now playing a second-tier game. The sound was amazing before and now it is not. I feel that sums it up: very simple, no need for all the hairy details on my well-packed GW playing machine. It matters not as the sound engine was great...and now sucks.

The best solution was given over and over and over again: provide players with a nice on/off button. Off if you want sound as it was before...On if you want the new sound.

What I also find a bit discouraging is that those that don't seem to be having a problem don't really have anything in common and I don't think they may be understanding of what we don't hear - things that we have heard for almost a year and the minor anomolies that do not belong. I have messed with my internal hardware settings, in-game settings (slider bar), updated drivers (oh, wait - there are none - I had the latest drivers for the past 3 months now - before the update), and everything in-between. I now have the internal settings back to where they were and the in-game slider bar dead center...bad, bad sound still.

I do find myself playing less, and yes - it is because the sound, while playing, is hideous. Hideous to the point of just saying ---- it! and logging off. I hate that I do that - I want to play GW.

Edit...I have no Direct Song free upgrade. I have what the came with the game in the original box, the updates provided by ArenaNet, and no other anything. I guess you could say the game-state is about as pure as you can get it.

Eden2k5 · Mar 14, 2006, 07:56 PM // 19:56

I know what the problem is in some cases. I have a pretty good sound card, but I always use headphones. Im pretty sure it's setup to use 4 or 6 speaker output thats why your getting weird sounds and reverberations.

Either way I prefer the older sound engine. Did anyone ever complain about that? Changing the slider back and forth really doesen't remove the sound anomalies. Having the slider completley to the left in what people say as "off" sure as hell doesen't make it off. It still is trying to emulate DS3D, sound effects play at very low volume and are intermittent.

Sagius Truthbarron · Mar 14, 2006, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomD22

(my warrior makes a swooshing miss noise quite often even when he's hit the target).

That's what I keep getting. I can't hear myself hitting the target, it just doesn't feel right. It makes me think the target has a stance up, and I start switching targets.

I can only hope they put the sound back to the way it was.

Count to Potato · Mar 14, 2006, 07:57 PM // 19:57

Sound problems might not be because of guildwars

EternalTempest · Mar 14, 2006, 08:03 PM // 20:03

Detailed Information

CPU
AMD Athlon64 3400+ (older 754 pin version w/ 1mb L2 Cache)

Motherboard:
VIA K8T800 Chipset = Via Hyperion Pro 5.04 Driver (11 Oct 2005)

Audio:
Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS = Driver 2.08.0004 (24 Jan 06)

OS
Windows XP Pro w/ Service Pack 2
(All Windows update critical and rec installed + additional hotfixes not found on windows update)

Direct X
DX9c (with all manged code up to Feb 06)

GW Settings
Sound Quality = All the way Maxed
DirectSong = OST, SF, Battle Pak1, Morrowind
WMP 10 with all patched (ver 10.00.00.3990)

I use headphones. I do get "looping" on certain spells

Sectus · Mar 14, 2006, 08:35 PM // 20:35

After writing a more extensive report on the sound problems to anet support I got much better response this time:

Quote:

Hello Remi,

Thanks for contacting the Guild Wars customer support team. We always appreciate hearing from our players. The problem you have reported is a known issue and the development team is already working on an appropriate solution. However, we are going to forward your enquiry to our QA department in order to provide the development team with as much information as possible.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding, as well as your interest in helping to improve Guild Wars. Please feel free to contact the support team again if you encounter any other problems.

Regards,

GM Trent

NCsoft Europe
Guild Wars Customer Support

At least we know anet is working on a solution. Now we just gotta wait for it be fixed.